Artificial Intelligence

Apple Brings Apple Intelligence to Accessibility Features With VoiceOver, Magnifier, and Vision Pro Wheelchair Control

Apple previewed a suite of accessibility updates powered by Apple Intelligence, bringing new capabilities to features that users with disabilities rely on daily. The updates touch VoiceOver, Magnifier, Voice Control, and Accessibility Reader, with all changes arriving later this year Apple announced.

Apple also unveiled on-device generated subtitles for uncaptioned video across its entire ecosystem and a new power wheelchair control feature for Apple Vision Pro. The Hikawa Grip & Stand for iPhone, an adaptive MagSafe accessory, is available starting today in three new colors on the Apple Store online.

“Apple’s approach to accessibility is unlike any other,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Now, with Apple Intelligence, we are bringing powerful new capabilities into our accessibility features while maintaining our foundational commitment to privacy by design.”

Apple Intelligence Powers Accessibility

VoiceOver’s Image Explorer now uses Apple Intelligence to deliver more detailed descriptions of images systemwide — including photographs, scanned bills, personal records, and other visual content. With updates to Live Recognition, VoiceOver users can press the Action button on iPhone to ask questions about what’s in the camera viewfinder and get detailed responses, then ask follow-up questions in their own words.

Magnifier gets the same Apple Intelligence-powered assistive exploration on a high-contrast interface for users with low vision. It also works with the Action button for quick Q&A, and users can control the app with spoken requests like “zoom in” or “turn on flashlight” — part of Apple’s broader push to make Siri a hands-free control layer across iPhone.

Voice Control becomes more intuitive with natural language navigation. Users can describe onscreen buttons and controls instead of memorizing exact labels or numbers — saying things like “tap the guide about best restaurants” or “tap the purple folder” Apple said. This also helps when elements aren’t properly labeled for accessibility. Voice Control powered by Apple Intelligence will be available in English in the U.S., Canada, the UK, and Australia.

Accessibility Reader, designed for users with dyslexia to low vision, now handles complex source material like scientific articles with multiple columns, images, and tables. On-demand summaries let readers get an overview before diving in, and built-in translation preserves custom formatting while converting text to the user’s native language.

Vision Pro Wheelchair Control And Subtitles

The most striking addition is a power wheelchair control feature for Apple Vision Pro. Leveraging the headset’s precision eye-tracking system, users can control compatible alternative drive systems without a joystick — an essential option for people who cannot use traditional controls. Vision Pro’s eye tracking doesn’t require frequent recalibration and works in various lighting conditions.

“The option to control my power wheelchair on my own is gold to me,” said Pat Dolan, founder of GeoALS and Team Gleason patient advisory board member, who has lived with ALS for 10 years. “With this new feature, Apple is developing life-enhancing technology for the people who need it most.”

The feature launches with Tolt and LUCI alternative drive systems in the U.S., supporting both Bluetooth and wired connections. Apple will continue working with developers to expand support for more wheelchair drive systems.

Generated subtitles use on-device speech recognition to automatically transcribe spoken audio in uncaptioned videos — including clips recorded on iPhone, content from friends and family, and streamed media. The feature works across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro. Subtitles appear automatically and can be customized in playback settings. Generated subtitles will be available in English in the U.S. and Canada.

Additional updates include Vehicle Motion Cues for visionOS to reduce motion sickness, face gestures for performing taps and system actions on Vision Pro, Sony Access controller support for iOS and macOS, Larger Text for tvOS, improved Made for iPhone hearing aid pairing, a new FaceTime API for sign language interpreters, and Name Recognition expanding to 50+ languages.

The announcements come days before Apple’s WWDC kickoff on June 8, where the company is expected to reveal more about its AI strategy — including a multibillion-dollar deal with Google for Gemini-powered Siri and support for third-party AI models.

FAQ

When will the new Apple Intelligence accessibility features be available?

Apple says all the new accessibility features and Apple Intelligence updates are coming later this year, likely alongside iOS 27 and other fall software releases.

How does the Vision Pro wheelchair control work?

It uses Apple Vision Pro’s precision eye-tracking system to let users control compatible alternative drive systems by looking at directional controls. It launches with Tolt and LUCI drive systems in the U.S.

Are the generated subtitles processed on-device?

Yes. On-device speech recognition generates subtitles privately, without sending audio to the cloud. They appear automatically for uncaptioned videos across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Vision Pro.

Which languages will Voice Control support?

Voice Control powered by Apple Intelligence will be available in English in the U.S., Canada, the UK, and Australia at launch.

What is the Hikawa Grip & Stand?

It’s an adaptive MagSafe accessory for iPhone designed with accessibility in mind, developed by LA-based designer Bailey Hikawa in collaboration with PopSockets. It helps users with disabilities affecting grip, strength, and mobility hold their iPhone.

Apple’s accessibility announcements come ahead of WWDC 2026, which kicks off June 8.