Apple's AI & Robotics Push: New Smart Home Products & Revamped Siri
Apple is reportedly gearing up for a significant push into artificial intelligence within the smart home sector, with plans for at least four new hardware products currently in development. This ambitious initiative aims to integrate advanced AI capabilities directly into users’ living spaces, marking a strategic move to catch up in the rapidly evolving generative AI landscape. Apple CEO Tim Cook has reportedly characterized AI as a transformative force on par with the internet or the smartphone, underscoring the company’s commitment.
Central to this new product lineup is an interactive desktop robot, internally codenamed J595, which could potentially launch as early as 2027. This innovative device is envisioned with a motorized arm that manipulates a 7-inch display, allowing it to move and orient itself to follow individuals around a room and respond to whoever is speaking. The robot is set to run on a significantly revamped version of Siri, engineered for more natural conversational interactions and capable of offering real-time suggestions, such as meal ideas or travel plans. This enhanced Siri is also expected to feature a visual avatar, developed under the codename “Bubbles,” with prototypes rumored to showcase Memoji-style graphics, aiming for a more human-like engagement. While whispers about such a robotic arm have circulated for over a year, concrete details about the product’s design have remained scarce until now.
Another key device in the pipeline is a smart display, codenamed J490, anticipated to arrive by mid-2026. This streamlined version of the robot foregoes the moving arm and the full conversational Siri, instead serving as a central hub for the smart home. It will support essential functions like music playback, web browsing, note-taking, and video calls. Both the interactive robot and the smart display are slated to operate on a new operating system named “Charismatic.” This OS builds upon the foundations of Apple TV and Apple Watch software, emphasizing voice control and widgets over traditional applications. Furthermore, it incorporates facial recognition technology to identify users and personalize content and experiences.
Beyond these interactive displays, Apple is also developing a new generation of security cameras, known internally as J450. These cameras will feature facial recognition and infrared sensors, designed for extended operation, potentially running for several months on battery power. Their purpose extends beyond basic surveillance; they are intended to automate daily routines, such as initiating music playback for specific users upon recognition or automatically switching off lights when someone exits a room.
The technological backbone supporting these new devices is an extensively overhauled version of Siri, codenamed Linwood, which leverages Apple’s proprietary generative AI models. Interestingly, Apple is also exploring an alternative approach, known as Glenwood, which integrates third-party technologies, including Anthropic’s Claude language model. Both projects are under the oversight of Mike Rockwell, who previously spearheaded the development of the Vision Pro headset, signaling the strategic importance of these initiatives. Apple’s robotics ambitions are not confined to the home; the company is also developing a mobile robot, codenamed T1333, equipped with wheels and an arm, intended for use in warehouses or factories. Over time, Apple envisions these industrial robots undertaking tasks currently performed by humans. This comprehensive hardware push underscores Apple’s determination to establish a dominant position in the generative AI space, extending its influence from personal devices into the very fabric of daily life.