Apple's Future Smart Home Robot Could Feature An iPad, Launch Expected By 2027

Apple could be working on a unique smart home device

Apple has ditched its plans for an electric vehicle but the smart home ambitions could get a big swing over the next few years.

Apple’s smart home ambitions are far higher than we imagined. The brand is said to be developing a novel device that has the potential to revolutionise the industry. This is a tabletop device that is still in development as per Bloomber, and it combines an iPad-like screen with a robotic arm that can move the screen.

This isn’t just another tablet; it’s intended to serve as the hub for your smart home. You could use it to operate all of your smart devices, conduct video conversations, and even keep a check on your house remotely. The objective is to make it simple for consumers to engage with the gadget using voice commands via Siri, Apple’s speech assistant. For example, during a video call, you may say, “Look at me,” and the screen would immediately focus to show you.

Gurman claims Apple has been working on this idea for some time and is finally gaining traction. Apple’s top executives gave the project, known internally as J595, the green light back in 2022. Recently, the firm has increased efforts to bring this technology to market, maybe by 2026 or 2027.

Apple intends to maintain the price at $1,000 (about Rs 80,000), but since it is still years away, things may change. This foray into robots is part of Apple’s larger aim to find new methods to generate revenue. The firm has been experimenting with several ideas, including a self-driving car project that was recently cancelled.

Apple is also seeking to make the most of its artificial intelligence (AI) technology, which will soon be integrated into products such as the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. This initiative has been the subject of internal discussions.

Apple’s marketing team was afraid that users wouldn’t want to spend a lot of money on such a device, while other software engineers were concerned about the resources required to develop it. However, Apple CEO Tim Cook and John Ternus, the company’s chief of hardware engineering, are enthusiastic backers of the initiative.