Apple Has Smart Home Gadgets In The Works Including Tabletop Robot & Smart Display

While Apple has been relatively quiet about its generative AI plans, a recent report from Bloomberg suggests the company has big plans for the smart home.

It is reportedly working on a range of new products, including a tabletop robot that can follow you around a room and a new smart home display with a screen. These devices, set to launch over the next few years, would become the new home for a much smarter and more visual version of Siri.

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A Robot That Follows You

One of the most intriguing devices in the works is a tabletop robot. Bloomberg says it looks a bit like an iPad mounted on a movable arm that can swivel and reposition itself. Its main purpose would be to follow users around a room, making hands-free video calls on FaceTime much easier. If you're on a call while cooking, the screen could turn to follow you as you move around the kitchen.

Prototypes apparently use a 7-inch display, similar in size to an iPad mini. The device would also be able to turn towards people who are talking or try to get someone's attention.

Apple has even shown a preview of this concept in research videos, according to The Verge. In these videos, a charming robot that resembles the Pixar lamp can dance and interact with its surroundings. This device is reportedly being targeted for a 2027 launch.

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A Smart Home Screen & More Visual Siri

In a move to compete with devices like the Google Nest Hub, Apple is also planning to launch a new smart home display that's essentially a HomePod with a screen. This device is expected to be released much sooner, by the middle of next year.

This smart screen would act as a central hub for the home, allowing you to control smart home gadgets, play music, take notes, and make video calls. Bloomberg notes that the screen looks like a Google Nest Hub but has a square display, and could feature the new visual Siri.

Both the robot and this new display may also have a new operating system that can be used by multiple people, with a front-facing camera that scans faces to personalise the information shown to each user.

These devices could potentially feature a revamped Siri, powered by large language models (LLMs). While Apple's AI efforts have been playing catch-up, the company wants a more natural, conversational voice for Siri during interactions, similar to what's possible with ChatGPT's voice mode.

Apple is also exploring a more visual Siri, with ideas ranging from an animated version of the Mac's Finder logo to a more personalised Memoji. This will likely make Siri more expressive and engaging interactions, making it feel less like a faceless assistant and more like a real-time companion.

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Read more Apple news here:

• Apple's First iPhone Foldable Will Arrive End of Next Year. Here's What To Know.
• Apple Reportedly Wants To Make Its Own Version Of ChatGPT
• Apple Is Reportedly Testing A Version Of Siri That'll Use Your iPhone On Your Behalf