WWDC 2025: What to Expect from Spotlight ?
Jun 9, 2025
WWDC is the perfect time to ask whether Apple’s Spotlight is about to get smarter. With WWDC 2025 kicking off June 9, here's what we expect Apple might unveil for Spotlight and why Fenn is already ahead.
Spotlight: Smarter, Sleeker, More AI-powered?
A major design refresh is expected across Apple’s ecosystem, including macOS 26 (likely called “Tahoe”), iOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26. Expect translucent, rounded interface elements inspired by Vision Pro. Finder and Spotlight may be unified with AI-powered summaries, smarter search suggestions, and refined window snapping.
While Apple Intelligence continues to roll out across its platforms, the company is likely to introduce subtle AI enhancements at WWDC. We could see smarter Spotlight previews pulling context from documents, PDFs, video thumbnails, maybe even translating or summarizing content on the fly.
Accessibility improvements are also on the horizon. Features like better visual summaries, live captions, and enriched document access could make Spotlight more inclusive but it may remain focused on locating files rather than diving deep into their contents.
Why Fenn Still Outshines Spotlight
Feature | Spotlight (incoming) | Fenn (now) |
|---|---|---|
Precision in media | No inside-file precision ❌ | Exact timestamp or pages search in audio, video, images, PDF, slides ✅ |
Context-awareness | Smart preview ✅ | Smart preview ✅ |
Mac compatibility | Likely supports both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs ✅ | Supports Apple Silicon Macs only ❌ |
Spotlight may be smarter than before, but its focus remains on system-wide search. Fenn goes further by letting you find precise moments within media and documents. This is something Spotlight cannot match just yet.
What to Watch for in the Keynote
AI Summaries in Spotlight
Look for richer previews, maybe even auto-summarized content from documents or media.UI Redesign
Expect modern frosted glass elements with translucency and rounded touches.Developer Access to AI
Apple might open up its AI tools to third-party developers, allowing enhanced search plugins; though this may come later.
Should You Use Fenn Even After WWDC?
Let’s be honest, if you only need basic file search, an upgraded Spotlight might suffice. But if your work involves finding specific moments in videos, extracting phrase locations in PDFs, or pinpointing images within slides, Spotlight won’t cut it.
Fenn already delivers powerful, deep search functionality across formats and works on more Mac models. And once Spotlight’s refresh arrives this fall, Fenn will remain the tool of choice for pros and power users.
Learn More
Curious how Fenn compares in real‑world scenarios? Check out our posts:
How Fenn Outperforms Spotlight in Finding Exact Moments in Videos and PDFs
Spotlight vs. Fenn in 2025: Can Apple Keep Up with Advanced File Searching
Final Take
WWDC 2025 will likely bring a smarter, sleeker Spotlight but if your workflow demands precision, timestamped media search, and deep document indexing, Fenn is still the winner.