Apple's AI Vision: Siri as Animated Smart Home Hub & New Robots
An extensive report details Apple’s ambitious plans to significantly expand its presence in artificial intelligence, with a particular focus on the smart home. While the company’s generative AI endeavors have reportedly lagged behind those of other major tech players, and some Siri upgrades were delayed earlier this year, these new initiatives signal a strategic pivot towards integrating AI deeply into domestic environments.
Central to Apple’s vision is a new generation of robots. One device reportedly under development is a tabletop robot designed to resemble an iPad mounted on a movable arm. This arm would allow the device to follow users as they navigate a room. Apple has previously offered a glimpse into this concept through research showcasing a tabletop robot that evokes the iconic Pixar lamp, even demonstrating its ability to dance in video previews. This robot is reportedly slated for a 2027 launch.
A crucial component of this tabletop device, and indeed Apple’s broader AI strategy, is a reimagined, more visual version of Siri. The goal is to enable more natural, conversational interactions, akin to the voice modes found in advanced large language models like ChatGPT. While Apple has reportedly tested an animated rendition of its Finder logo for Siri, the company is also exploring ideas closer to its Memoji characters. This revamped Siri would be powered by sophisticated large language models, promising a significant leap in its conversational capabilities and utility. Beyond the tabletop model, Apple is also reportedly working on other robotic concepts, including a wheeled robot similar to Amazon’s Astro, and has even engaged in preliminary discussions about developing humanoid robots.
In the nearer term, Apple is preparing to launch a new smart home display by the middle of next year. This device is envisioned as a central hub for managing smart home devices, playing music, taking notes, and conducting video calls. It is also expected to feature the new, more visual iteration of Siri. Both this smart home display and the tabletop robot may run on a new operating system designed for multi-user environments, potentially offering personalized content by using a front-facing camera to scan and identify individual users. The smart home screen is described as having a square display, drawing comparisons to Google’s Nest Hub.
Further broadening its smart home ecosystem, Apple is also said to be developing a security camera. This is reportedly part of a larger plan to introduce multiple types of cameras and home-security products, forming an entirely new hardware and software lineup within the smart home sector. These interconnected initiatives underscore Apple’s commitment to establishing Siri as an animated, interactive centerpiece of the intelligent home, transforming how users interact with technology in their daily lives.