Apple’s Next Big Project Could Be a Tabletop Robot/iPad

According to a report from Apple, a “team of several hundred people” is working on a new product that attaches an iPad-like display to a robotic arm that uses actuators to tilt up and down as well as rotate 360 ​​degrees. Bloombergby Mark Gurman.

The tabletop device could serve multiple purposes, allowing you to control your smart home, attend video conferences, monitor your home security, and much more.

Gurman has repeatedly reported in recent months on rumors that the company is exploring home robotics, and now says the project is moving forward with Apple’s vice president of technology Kevin Lynch at the helm. Sources say Bloomberg The company is targeting a launch in 2026 or 2027 and a price of around $1,000.

The device would be able to respond to Siri commands or Apple Intelligence features, such as “look at me,” which could tilt the screen to face a user during a video call. Apple is currently testing models that run a “custom version” of iPadOS, according to Bloomberg.

The move would come after the cancellation of its car project and the launch of the expensive Vision Pro earlier this year, and would make Apple the latest tech giant to dive into home robotics. Remember Samsung’s Ballie? Meanwhile, Amazon recently scrapped the commercial version of its Astro robot amid rumors of a major generative AI upgrade in the works.