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Apple is actively researching AI-powered robots with the goal of making new potential products in the home robotics category, according to a Bloomberg report published late Wednesday.
The iPhone maker is considering making a robot that could follow its owner around or a robotic device that could move displays, the outlet finds, citing multiple anonymous sources familiar with the work. The robotic display project is more developed of the two so far but has been intermittently dropped from and then added back to Apple's roadmap for years. Both projects are still in an "early research phase."
Apple VP of Hardware Engineering Matt Costello and Apple Senior Director of Home Hardware Engineering Brian Lynch are reportedly leading the projects under the tech giant's hardware engineering and AI and machine learning division. Apple AI employees are also working on algorithms to help robots move through people's homes, a piece that could be connected to the mobile robot project.
Bloomberg notes that Apple is hiring for robotics roles with a job description that asks candidates to help "shape the AI that will power the next generation of Apple products" and that Apple is looking for engineers and researchers to "help us research, define, and develop complex intelligent robotic systems and experiences in the real world." One Apple job post active at time of writing calls for a robotics engineer with experience "programming autonomous robotics and systems" and using AI algorithms to power autonomous systems.
Apple's potential push into AI-powered home robots could be the company's new experimental market after it abandoned its electric vehicle project, according to the report. The company is also researching adding AI to AirPods and considering building smart glasses.
Apple hasn't rolled out generative AI tools at the speed of competitors like Google, Samsung, or Microsoft, but it's planning to unveil some later this year.
In the world of robotics, Apple would join a still-emerging but somewhat competitive landscape, with Amazon, iRobot, and others already releasing products in the home robotics space.