Apple ‘planning AI comeback with robots, home security and smart displays’

Apple is reportedly working on a sweeping artificial intelligence strategy designed to regain ground in the sector, with new hardware ranging from tabletop robots to home-security cameras and smart displays.

Apple is reportedly working on robots, home-security cameras and smart displays as part of a new AI strategy.

According to Bloomberg, the centrepiece of the plan is a virtual companion robot targeted for release in 2027, alongside a new smart speaker with a display expected next year.

These devices are said to form part of a broader smart-home push that includes AI-powered cameras capable of facial recognition and automating household functions.

The robot will reportedly feature a motorised arm with a 7-inch display and an overhauled Siri capable of engaging in natural, back-and-forth conversations.

Apple is also said to be developing a stripped-down smart display without the robotic arm, running a new multi-user operating system dubbed Charismatic.

CEO Tim Cook reportedly told employees in a recent all-hands meeting: “The product pipeline – which I can’t talk about – it’s amazing, guys. It’s amazing.

“Some of it you’ll see soon. Some of it will come later. But there’s a lot to see.”

The new Siri is supposedly being rebuilt on large language model technology under projects known internally as Linwood and Glenwood.

Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering, reportedly told staff: “The work we’ve done on this end-to-end revamp of Siri has given us the results we needed.

“This has put us in a position to not just deliver what we announced, but to deliver a much bigger upgrade than we envisioned.”

While the initiatives could still be altered or scrapped, analysts say the move is intended to challenge rivals such as Samsung, Google, Meta and Amazon in the smart-home and AI hardware markets.