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Apple is reportedly leaning into its robotics efforts with a device that Bloomberg describes as a "smart home command center."
Rumors about an Apple home robot first surfaced in April, and the project has ramped up in recent months, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says. It features an iPad-like display and a "thin robotic arm" that controls the screen, which can move up or down or turn 360 degrees.
The idea is to boost revenue following the demise of Apple's car project. The company is also looking for another device to showcase Apple Intelligence—and Siri. Thus far, the company's smart home efforts have largely been limited to its HomePod speakers, neither of which feature a display. The gadget described by Bloomberg, codenamed J595 internally, sounds a lot like Amazon's Echo Show 10, which features a motorized base that lets the screen and camera rotate as you move around.
Bloomberg says the device has been in the works since 2022. There was skepticism about it from the marketing team, but CEO Tim Cook appears to be on board.
Kevin Lynch, Apple's VP of technology, and Matt Costello, Apple's HomePod head, are handling the robot project. Meanwhile, hundreds of employees have reportedly been shifted to work on it.
Apple reportedly plans to release the product by 2026 or 2027 for around $1,000, considerably more expensive than other smart home displays like the $250 Echo Show 10.