Apple expands AI hardware push with tabletop robot and smart home hub

Apple is accelerating its push into artificial intelligence-driven hardware with a multi-device strategy that spans a tabletop robot, a smart home hub with a screen, and a range of home-security cameras. The initiative centers on a refreshed, more socialized version of Siri and a new operating system designed to support multi-user experiences. Internal timelines point to a mid-2026 smart home display and a 2027 launch for a tabletop robot, with a broader slate of devices that could include mobile robots, smart glasses, and a foldable iPhone. The plan reflects Apple’s intent to become a more prominent player in home automation and consumer robotics, challenging established ecosystems from Amazon and Google.

The centerpiece of the new lineup is a tabletop robot described as an iPad-like display mounted on a movable arm. The device is designed to swivel and extend to face people as they move around a room, and to participate in conversations with a more interactive personality. Prototypes have used a seven-inch display and a motorized arm capable of repositioning the screen up to several inches in any direction. The goal is to create a personal, room-scale assistant that can...