Apple prepares for a decisive move in artificial intelligence with a strategy that focuses on the home and new hardware categories: a desktop robot as a virtual companion, a speaker with a screen, and an ecosystem of security cameras with advanced automation.
All this comes accompanied by a profound reinvention of Siri and a new operating system designed for sharing and voice control in the home.
What Apple is preparing and why now
After a cold reception to his visor and several years without major shocks in design Of its flagship products, Apple wants a splash that connects with the current wave of generative AI. The company has been criticized for being late, but its track record shows it tends to be late to Raising the bar with integration and user experienceWith enough cash to finance the bet, the plan is to cohesive ecosystem and with a route.
The axis is a desktop robot planned for 2027 who will act as a proactive and social helper at home. Before that, in 2026, a speaker with display 7 inch (internally “J490”) with home control, content, notes and video calls, along with wireless security cameras with intelligent automation (project “J450”). All of this under a new software codenamed Charismatic, designed for multi-user use, widgets and dictation/voice.
The ambition goes beyond the home: there are teams exploring a wheeled mobile robot —along the lines of Amazon's Astro—, humanoid concepts in the long term, and even a industrial robotic arm (T1333) for manufacturing and retail operations. This diversity suggests that Apple wants to create more of its own devices for the home and that its bet on robotics has both domestic and industrial impact.
In parallel, Apple is finalizing a complete review of Siri based on large language models, with long-term memory, contextual responses, and a visual layer closer to an animated character than the current dial. This revamped Siri will arrive on iPhone and iPad, and will later sit at the heart of new home devices so that interaction is more natural, fluid and usefulFor those who manage the home, there are practical guides on how to integrate Apple devices into the home, such as Use your iPad as a HomeKit hub.
The competitive environment is tightening: Amazon and Google have dominated the smart speaker and display segment for years, while OpenAI and other players are exploring new device formats. That's why Apple is putting all its effort into it, and its executives are talking internally about a “incredible” product line, with advancements that some employees will see soon and others later. For example, competitors like RING keep the pressure on security features and smart alerts.
The desktop robot: virtual companion with a screen and arm
The domestic robot is conceived as a compact iPad on a motorized limb that rotates, rises, and repositions itself to “look at you” when you speak to it. The prototypes work with a horizontal screen close to 7 inches and an arm capable of extending it around half a foot (about 15 centimeters) in any direction, providing subtle gestures that give the device presence.
The idea is that it is a virtual companion that lives on your table or countertop, with a look that inspires connection and behavior that goes beyond responding to commands. You can follow conversations in the room and intervene politely with suggestions (restaurants, recipes, travel routes), planning tasks or helping make decisions. Insiders compare it, in spirit, to a “extra person” in the room.
In the FaceTime calls will play a starring role: the screen will be able to frame and reframe people as they speak or move around the room. Apple is testing a feature where the iPhone becomes a “joystick” to move the plane and show different elements or participants during the video call, which adds a very convenient layer of control.
The distinctive seal will be a All-new Siri, with a more natural voice and the ability to maintain a continuous dialogue with several people at once. Apple designs a visual representation called “Bubbles”, inspired by ecosystem icons like the Finder face, and studying alternatives that reminiscent of MemojiSome employees jokingly nickname him the “Pixar lamp” by how it moves and “looks.”
This project (code J595) involves AI, hardware, software and interface design teams, with Kevin Lynch in charge of some of the work. Development uses third-party systems such as ChatGPT or Google Gemini for prototyping and internal testing, a pragmatic approach while Apple strengthens its own model stack.
Siri is reborn: language models, memory, and a new face
The heart of this transformation is a rebuilding Siri on large language models. Internally, the project Linwood pursue a “brain” that understands context, takes advantage personal data with privacy and respond accurately, overcoming the limitations of the current assistant. In parallel, Glenwood, which would connect Siri with external technology (Apple is evaluating models such as Claude from Anthropic).
The roadmap contemplates that the new LLM Siri lands on iPhone and iPad before making the leap to home devices. Executives such as Craig Federighi They have internally reported that the work carried out "has given the results they needed" and that the update that will come will be of greater depth than expected. In charge of the coordination is Mike Rockwell, relocated after his time on the mixed reality project.
In addition to the cognitive part, Apple explores a Siri's visual layer that makes the assistant more recognizable and expressive. The proposal “Bubbles” bets on a dynamic on-screen presence that vaguely reminiscent of Clippy, the animated assistant from the 90s in Office, but with a modern aesthetic and in line with the visual language of the ecosystem.
Voice interaction is reinforced with an update to App Intents, the system that allows Precisely control interfaces and apps with just your voiceThe goal is to eliminate the need to “enter and exit” applications at home: Siri orchestrates widgets and functions, and the screen acts as a visual support that appears when needed and disappears when not.
Apple is aware that the naturalness and low latency will be key. The goal is to maintain continuous conversations that don't "sit in fits and starts," with a memory of what was discussed during the day and the ability to connect decisions, recommendations, and reminders. as an attentive human assistant would do.
Charismatic: The Operating System for a Shared Home
To articulate the experience at home, Apple prepares Charismatic, a new operating system that blends ideas from tvOS and watchOS. It is designed to households with multiple users, with facial recognition and profiles so that, when you get close to the device, everything adapts to your preferences: design, functions, contents and suggestions.
The interface pivots on spheres and widgets, with circular icons and a hexagonal grid that makes it easy to see many actions at a glance. Themes include playful options—such as a wink to Snoopy— and access to key ecosystem apps: Calendar, Camera, Music, Reminders or Notes, among others. It's a "voice-first" experience with haptic feedback when appropriate.
This software will run on both the desktop robot and a independent home screen planned for mid-2026. That screen (code J490) is a version without arm or conversational Siri at first, oriented to home control, playback, notes, navigation and video calls. May include the Siri's new visual interface although its role of deep dialogue comes later.
In hardware, J490 is reminiscent of a Google Nest Hub, but with a more rounded shape square, thin frames (in black or white) and rounded cornersThe 7-inch screen sits on a half-dome base with speakers and microphones at the bottom, and includes wall mountThe goal is to be the central home control panel that anyone can use without a learning curve.
A key point is that the device lends itself to being shared naturallyThe front-facing camera identifies users and changes routines, playlists, shortcuts, or reminders on the fly. This keeps the screen useful throughout the home without any setup conflicts or the need for additional settings. log in every now and then.
Security cameras and automation: project J450
Home security is another pillar. Apple is working on wireless cameras with long-lasting battery —months and even up to a year per charge— that incorporate facial recognition, infrared sensors and motion sensors like those that are coming to the market (motion sensor). Its function is not only to record, but automate actions based on who is present: turn off lights when you leave, adjust the music to the person who enters, or activate home scenes.
The idea includes multiple camera formats (interior, exterior) and the possibility of a smart doorbell with unlocking via facial recognition. All of this is integrated with the Apple cloud services, where iCloud+ recording options already exist for third-party cameras, opening the door to a unified, Apple-made experience.
Recognizing the playing field, the objective is compete with Ring (Amazon), Nest (Google) and Roku solutions, leveraging iPhone user loyalty and the promise of wireless security of its ecosystem. The battle won't be easy, but Apple sees this category a clear lever for growth if the experience and support are up to par.
These cameras are not limited to surveillance; they also enrich home automation. Identifying people allows routines to be truly personal, and infrared detection improves performance in low light conditionsThat fine-grained understanding of context is the glue that binds safety, comfort, and entertainment together.
As for calendars, cameras and the J490 display are listed on the first wave of 2026, synchronized with the arrival of the new Siri. However, as always at Apple, the Deadlines depend on the software: The company will only press the launch button when the experience is mature.
Other bets on robotics and the leap into industry
Beyond the desktop robot, Apple has teams exploring a wheeled mobile robot to follow the user around the house, similar in concept to Amazon's Astro. There are also comments humanoid models in the embryonic phase, whose development is very long-term and could change course depending on technical and usability advances.
On the professional side, there appears a large mechanical arm (T1333) for tasks in manufacturing plants or logistics in the back office of stores. It is a movement that pursues optimize internal processes And, eventually, it could reduce operating costs. It's not imminent, but it signals Apple's ambition to apply its robotics vision to the value chain as well.
These projects illustrate a “portfolio” strategy in robotics: home, indoor mobility and industrial applications. Each line advances at its own pace, with multidisciplinary teams of AI, hardware, software and design coordinating efforts so that the final result is more than the sum of its parts.
Collaboration with academic institutions such as the Carnegie Mellon University to research key robotics components under codenames like “Armor.” While not an official move, it fits with Apple’s practice of supporting its R&D with discreet high-level alliances.
This range of initiatives is managed with caution: Apple kills projects if they don't fit with its standard of experience—there's the precedent of the autonomous car—so not everything that's explored ever sees the light of day. But the investment, the talent assigned, and the insistence with which the home line is talked about suggest a real commitment to this wave.
Calendar, risks and the pulse with competitors
The roadmap that is being drawn up for now is clear: in 2026, New Siri with LLMs, Charismatic, and the first wave of hardware (J490 display and J450 cameras). In 2027, desktop robot as an icon of the ecosystemIn between, there are software tweaks, feature expansions, and possible surprises if development matures ahead of schedule.
As a backdrop, Apple is making other moves: Thinner and redesigned iPhones, foldable phone, One smart glasses, a commemorative iPhone and some Renewed headphones (N100)There is even the idea of a large folding device that merges MacBook and iPadThe message is that hardware innovation is still alive, but the bet on AI and home concentrates the focus.
On the competitive board, Amazon and Google have the advantage in displays and speakers, while OpenAI (with Jony Ive) flirts with its own AI device that could redefine everyday interaction. For Apple, the trump card is the vertical integration: hardware, software and services under one umbrella, with privacy as a hallmark and Siri as an omnipresent interface.
Another challenge is that the market doesn't forgive half-baked experiences. Hence the internal insistence that the software is ready before starting to walk. He himself Tim Cook He encouraged the staff by emphasizing that the portfolio is "incredible" and that part of it will be seen soon. The tone conveys confidence, but also caution with deadlines.
An interesting note: Apple devices are using external models (ChatGPT, Gemini) to accelerate the creation and testing of features. This does not contradict its commitment to developing its own technology; on the contrary, it reveals a practical approach that prioritizes results and learning while its state-of-the-art AI infrastructure takes hold.
The installed base of iPhone, iPad and Apple TV, together with HomeKit and iCloud, provides a privileged launching platformIf Charismatic and the new Siri integrate seamlessly and the hardware delivers, Apple could make a leap in perception from “late to AI” to “has redefined how we live with AI at home".
What you can expect on a daily basis
With the desktop robot On board, the house changes dynamics: natural conversations with Siri that remembers what you said in the morning, video calls that follow you without worrying about framing, recommendations that appear when you need them and a visual presence that brings interaction to life without being intrusive.
La J490 display It will be the “control panel” of the home, easy to use for anyone and with automatic profiles that avoid conflicts. You'll see widgets with what matters to you at any given moment, you'll control lights, music, and cameras with your voice, and you'll have FaceTime with a tap always ready on the countertop or wall.
The J450 cameras They will provide security and comfort: when no one is there, the house saves; when you enter, it activate your environment, and if a regular guest arrives, everything flows without any setup dramas. Infrared detection and facial recognition make a difference in response and precision.
And all this with a Siri aware of the home context, capable of coordinating multiple devices without you having to "cook" complex routines. Voice commands, the screen follows, and the system learns. without being invasive.
Dates, code names and fine details
- Desktop robot: J595, designed for 2027, ~7″ screen, motorized arm with extension close to 15 cm, FaceTime tracking and plane control with the iPhone as a joystick.
- Home screen: J490, aiming for 2026, square shape with thin frames, half-dome base for speakers/microphones, option of wall mount and focus on widgets and home control.
- Security cameras: J450, battery several months to a year, facial and infrared recognition, automations and potential doorbell with facial unlocking.
- Operating system: Charismatic (formerly Pebble/Rock), a combination of ideas from tvOS and watchOS, multi-user with facial recognition, widgets, circular iconography and hexagonal grid.
- Siri: Projects Linwood (own models) and Glenwood (external models evaluated as Claude), memory and natural dialogue, “Bubbles” visual layer inspired by Finder and Memoji.
- Management and teams: Kevin Lynch leads part of the effort in robotics; Mike Rockwell coordinates Siri; Craig Federighi promotes in-depth software review. Development is supported by testing with ChatGPT and Gemini for internal prototypes.
- Industrial projection: exploration of the arm T1333 for plants and retail, and parallel lines in wheeled mobile robot and humanoid concepts. Possible joint research with leading universities.
With all of the above, Apple's plan is not a shot in the dark: it is a ecosystem designed to deploy in waves and mature with software iterations. The key will be for the new Siri and Charismatic fit like a glove with hardware, something Apple has historically excelled at when it decides to go deep into a category.
What's brewing in Cupertino points to a change of era: Robots with charisma, screens that understand who you are and cameras that make security a convenient experience too. If the deadlines are right and the execution is up to par, Apple could turn home AI into something close, useful and everyday for millions of homes.
