# Apple's Ambitious AI Strategy: Robots, Smarter Siri, and a Smart Home Ecosystem This report from **The Verge**, authored by **Jay Peters**, details Apple's extensive plans to bolster its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, with a particular focus on integrating AI into its smart home offerings and revamping its virtual assistant, Siri. The report, citing **Bloomberg**, suggests Apple is significantly investing in AI development, aiming to catch up with competitors in generative AI. ## Key Initiatives and Product Developments: * **Robotics:** Apple is reportedly developing multiple types of robots: * **Tabletop Robot:** This robot is described as resembling an iPad mounted on an arm, capable of moving and following users within a room. Apple has previously showcased research into a similar robot, which appeared as a real-life version of the Pixar logo with a lamp on its arm and demonstrated capabilities like dancing. This device is targeted for a **2027 launch**. * **Wheeled Robot:** Similar to Amazon's Astro, this robot is also in development. * **Humanoid Robots:** Apple has "loosely discussed" the possibility of developing humanoid robots. * **Smart Home Display:** Apple plans to launch a smart home display by the **"middle of next year"**. This device will allow users to control smart home devices, play music, take notes, and make video calls. It is expected to feature the new look and capabilities of Siri. The display is described as having a square screen, resembling a Google Nest Hub. * **Revamped Siri:** A core component of Apple's AI strategy is a significant overhaul of Siri. The new Siri will be powered by **Large Language Models (LLMs)**, enabling more natural and conversational interactions, akin to ChatGPT's voice mode. Apple is exploring visual representations for Siri, including an animated version of the Finder logo and ideas similar to Memoji. * **New Operating System (OS):** Both the smart home display and the tabletop robot may utilize a new OS designed for multi-user interaction. This OS could also feature personalized content delivery by scanning a user's face with a front-facing camera. * **Home Security Products:** In addition to the smart home display, Apple is also working on a **security camera** and plans to develop "multiple types of cameras and home-security products as part of an entirely new hardware and software lineup." ## Strategic Context and Potential Impact: While Apple's generative AI efforts are noted as lagging behind other major tech companies, these rumored initiatives signal a strong commitment to establishing a significant presence in the smart home market. The integration of AI into Siri and a suite of new hardware products suggests Apple's vision of a more intelligent and personalized user experience within the home environment. The report highlights the smart home as a "key place" for Apple's AI technology to flourish. ## Timeline: * **Middle of next year:** Launch of the smart home display. * **2027:** Targeted launch of the tabletop robot. This comprehensive push into AI and robotics indicates Apple's intent to redefine its role in the connected home and compete more directly in the AI-driven consumer technology space.
Apple’s plan for AI could make Siri the animated center of your smart home
Read original at The Verge →Apple is developing a bunch of products and features to deliver its vision of AI, including multiple robots, a smart home display, and a revamped version of Siri with new technology powering it, according to an extensive report from Bloomberg. The company’s generative AI efforts lag those from other big tech companies, and it delayed some upgrades to Siri earlier this year, but these rumored new initiatives point to the smart home as a key place for its AI technologyOne of the robots is apparently a tabletop robot that “resembles” an iPad mounted to an arm that can move around and follow users as they move around a room, Bloomberg says.
Apple has already shared a preview of what this could look like: earlier this year, the company published research showing a tabletop robot that looks like a real-life version of the Pixar logo with a lamp on the end of the arm. In videos, it’s quite charming — it can even dance.Video: AppleA key part of the device, which Apple is aiming to launch in 2027, would be a more visual version of Siri that users could have more natural conversations with, like what’s possible with ChatGPT’s voice mode.
Bloomberg says Apple has tested using an animated take on the Finder logo for Siri, but the company is also apparently thinking about ideas that are more like Memoji. Apple is also revamping Siri so that it’s powered by LLMs.Apple is working on other robots, too, including an Amazon Astro-like robot that has wheels, and it has “loosely discussed” humanoid robots, according to Bloomberg.
By the “middle of next year,” Apple plans to launch a smart home display that will let you do things like control your smart home, play music, take notes, and do video calls, Bloomberg says, and this device could have the new look for Siri. The display and the tabletop robot may have a new OS that can be used by multiple people, and could be able to personalize what’s shown to a user by scanning their face with a front-facing camera.
Bloomberg says the smart home screen resembles a Google Nest Hub but has a square display.In addition to the smart home display, Apple is also working on a security camera, and it plans to develop “multiple types of cameras and home-security products as part of an entirely new hardware and software lineup,” Bloomberg says.
Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Jay Peters
