Apple is reportedly gearing up for a major AI push in the smart home, with four new hardware products in the pipeline.
According to Bloomberg, the centerpiece is an interactive desktop robot (codenamed J595) that could arrive as early as 2027. The robot features a motorized arm that moves a 7-inch display in different directions, following people around the room and responding to whoever is speaking.
The robot runs on a revamped version of Siri, designed to engage more naturally in conversations and offer real-time suggestions. Apple is aiming for human-like interactions, such as recommending meal ideas or travel plans. Siri will also get a visual avatar, developed under the codename “Bubbles,” with prototypes featuring Memoji-style graphics.
Rumors about this robotic arm have been circulating for over a year, but so far, there have been no concrete leaks about the product.
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Smarter Home Hardware
Apple is also working on a smart display (codenamed J490) set to launch in mid-2026. This device is a streamlined version of the robot, without the moving arm or conversational Siri. Instead, it serves as a hub for the smart home, supporting music, web browsing, notes, and video calls.
Both the robot and the smart display will run a new operating system called “Charismatic,” which builds on Apple TV and Apple Watch software. The system relies on voice control and widgets instead of traditional apps and uses facial recognition to identify users and personalize content.
Apple is also developing a new generation of security cameras (codenamed J450) with facial recognition and infrared sensors, designed to run for several months on battery power. These cameras are meant to automate daily routines, like playing music for specific users or turning off lights when someone leaves a room.
Linwood: The Next Generation of Siri
The core technology behind these new devices is an overhauled version of Siri, codenamed Linwood, built on Apple’s own generative AI models. Apple is also testing an alternative called Glenwood that integrates third-party technologies, including Anthropic’s Claude language model. Both projects are overseen by Mike Rockwell, who previously led Vision Pro.
Apple’s robotics ambitions extend to a mobile robot (codenamed T1333) with wheels and an arm, designed for warehouses or factories. Over time, Apple sees these robots taking on tasks currently handled by people.
This hardware push is part of Apple’s broader effort to catch up in generative AI. In a recent internal meeting, CEO Tim Cook described AI as a disruption on the scale of the internet or the smartphone.
