Apple to tap into AI expansion with robots and lifelike Siri

Apple is developing a variety of new features, including robots and a lifelike Siri, as the company aims to catch up with its AI-first tech rivals.

According to a report from Bloomberg, the main part of Apple’s AI vision is a tabletop robot acting as a virtual companion. It looks like an iPad mounted on a movable limb and is able to move around a room, turn itself to interact with a person who is speaking, and even draw attention to itself. The company aims to release it in 2027.

The robot's two key features will be FaceTime calls and an entirely new version of the Siri voice assistant. For video calls, the display will shift to lock on those in the room, and Apple is even testing the possibility of turning the display into a joystick, allowing users to freely move the robot around the room and showcase its contents or other people.

The most important change will be to Apple’s Siri, which will now be able to inject itself into conversations, acting like another person in a room. It will be available to engage with users throughout the day and even interrupt conversations to make useful suggestions. Similar to OpenAI’s voice mode, it’s being tested to participate in back-and-forth discussions.

The company is planning to give Siri a visual representation, making it feel more lifelike. According to Bloomberg, it’s been tested to look like an animated version of the Finder logo, and the designers are also considering using Apple’s Memoji to give it a human look.

Several other robots are reportedly in development, including a mobile bot with wheels, similar to Amazon.com Inc.’s Astro. The team is also “loosely” discussing the possibility of releasing humanoid robots.

Additionally, Apple is developing a smart speaker with a display scheduled for next year as part of its push into smart-home products. The device is code-named J490 and will have functions like note-taking, home control, music playback, video conferencing, and more. Both the smart display and the tabletop robot will use a new operating system dubbed Charismatic.

It’s meant to be used by multiple people, featuring multiuser modes and clock-face themes.

The company is also considering home security as an expansion vector, with the development of home security cameras. Apple aims to develop “multiple types of cameras and home-security products as part of an entirely new hardware and software lineup,” Bloomberg reports. It aims to compete with popular home security brands such as Amazon Ring and Google Nest.

The news comes as Apple is seemingly eyeing a major AI investment, according to CEO Tim Cook’s recent remarks. The company has created a new team called Answers, Knowledge and Information (AKI) to develop new in-house AI services and enhance users' search experience.