Apple is reportedly expanding its product lineup and enhancing its artificial intelligence capabilities, with plans for several innovative devices. This includes various robots, a smart home display, and a significant overhaul of Siri, as detailed in a recent report from Bloomberg. While the company’s generative AI advancements have not kept pace with its competitors, these forthcoming initiatives focus on integrating AI technology into smart home environments.
Among the new products, Apple is working on a tabletop robot that is designed to mimic an iPad mounted on a movable arm, capable of following users throughout a room, according to Bloomberg. Earlier this year, the company showcased a concept that resembled a real-life version of the Pixar lamp, which demonstrated its charm with dance movements in promotional videos.
A major component of the upcoming products, expected to debut in 2027, includes an enhanced visual version of Siri. This new interface aims to facilitate more natural communication, similar to the voice capabilities offered by ChatGPT. Bloomberg reports that Apple is exploring the use of an animated version of the Finder logo for Siri, while also considering Memoji-style concepts. The updated Siri will be powered by large language models (LLMs).
Additionally, Apple is investigating other robotic designs, including a mobile unit similar to Amazon’s Astro, while also loosely considering humanoid robots, according to Bloomberg.
Looking ahead to the middle of next year, Apple plans to introduce a smart home display that will facilitate smart home management, music playback, note-taking, and video calling. This device will likely incorporate the new Siri interface. Both the smart home display and the tabletop robot may operate on a new operating system, capable of recognizing users through facial scanning, thus personalizing user experiences. The smart home display is said to be similar to Google’s Nest Hub but will feature a square screen.
Beyond the smart display, Apple is also developing a security camera alongside various home security products, integrated into a new hardware and software ecosystem, according to Bloomberg.
