Apple does not have a perfect track record with smart home devices or intelligent cars. The technology giant from Cupertino, California is reportedly now obsessed with the idea of home robotics. We’ve finally got our first hint from a reliable rumormonger about Apple’s next big project. It’s apparently a big-screen iPad attached to a tabletop robot arm. Think less Samsung Ballie and more Homepod, but with a screen that can twist and turn – all powered by AI.
We heard hints of this shift to smart home robotics earlier this year, but a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claims Apple has deployed hundreds of employees on its iPad-plus-robotic arm concept. Gurman cites anonymous sources with knowledge of Apple’s recent efforts who say the arm would be a “command center” for the smart home that would be a HomePod, video conferencing window and security tool all in one. Imagine if you were to build an Amazon Echo Show or a Pixel Tablet with its smart home hub dock on a thin, mechanical arm with integrated drives for movement.
Apple is said to have approved the idea as early as 2022. However, the project has gained momentum in recent months following the demise of the long-awaited Apple-branded electric car – as Bloomberg first reported in February. This also coincides with Apple’s big move towards AI, called Apple IntelligenceThe device will likely use AI to some extent and probably the AI-powered Siri to follow the instructions of the users.
According to Bloomberg’s report, CEO Tim Cook is backing the initiative. He sits alongside head of hardware development John Ternus and vice president of technology Kevin Lynch. Lynch also led Apple’s smart car project. Vice president of hardware development, who is responsible for Homepod, Matt Costello, is also reportedly overseeing the hardware side of things.
Smart home technology has not been a moneymaker for many big tech companies. Last month, The Wall Street Journal reported that Amazon is burning billions of dollars on its Echo line. The company tried a losing strategy by offering cheap devices to bring Alexa into millions of homes. Amazon is trying to strengthen Alexa with AI, including Apple, GoogleSamsung and almost every major technology brand. Amazon wants users buy a subscription to access this AI Alexa.
The version currently being tested allegedly uses a modified version of iPadOS, a software suite known for lagging behind MacOS in terms of versatility. Perhaps the software works better on a movable arm attached to a tabletop, but Apple would still have to modify it heavily to create something fast enough to use on the fly.
It is still early, and Bloomberg claims that we will see this price drop to around $1,000 sometime in 2026 or 2027. And yet, from the beginningThe idea of a robotic arm with a screen conjures up images of The Jetsons– like the future technology of the 50s This seems far less useful in today’s age of pocket-sized smartphones.
