Apple is still working hard to become a relevant player in the AI space. Mark Gurman’s recent writings on Bloomberg suggests that Apple is shifting its AI goals to focus on new device segments. Sources reportedly told the publication that Apple has a number of new smart home products in the works that could help change its sluggish artificial intelligence strategy.
The centerpiece of the new line is an AI table companion, described as an iPad on a movable robotic arm. It can be rotated so that the screen faces the user when moving around the home or office. According to sources, the current prototype uses a horizontal screen of about three inches, while the motorized arm can move the screen about six inches from the base in any direction. A long-promised overhaul of the Siri voice assistant could see this device acting as an extra person, retrieving information, making suggestions and participating in conversations. That’s why BloombergApple aims to launch this product in 2027.
Apple’s new range would also include a smart home hub, a simpler version of the robot friend without a mobile stand. We may see this sooner, as the device is expected to launch in 2026. This hub can control music playback, note-taking, web browsing and video conferencing. Both the robot and the smart home hub will use a new operating system called Charismatic, designed to support multiple users. Siri running on your device will have a particularly happy personality and you will also be able to get a visual representation of it. BloombergAccording to sources, no final decision has yet been made on the aesthetic aspect; Internal tests showed that Siri resembled an animated Finder icon and a Memoji.
Today’s controversy follows earlier reports from Gurman highlighting Apple’s interest in these categories. The idea of a smart home hub was apparently presented to the company in 2022 and would finally make its official debut this year. Robots have also long been a topic of interest in Cupertino, with claims that Apple is developing a personal robot dating back at least to last spring. While this Bloomberg While this article provides more information about these hypothetical projects, it’s always possible that Apple could change direction or abandon a project.