Apple is moving forward with a project that could result in a $1,000 tabletop robotic device, according to a new report by Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman.
The device would boast a large iPad-style display mounted on a “thin robotic arm” that will be able to tilt up and down and rotate a full 360 degrees. The robot would act as a home security monitoring tool, a videoconferencing tool, and a “smart home command center.”
The robot would respond to verbal commands, recognize different users’ voices, and automatically pivot the display to face users, all via Siri and Apple Intelligence.
While Gurman reported in April that Apple had a new skunk-works project that is a “mobile robot” that would “follow users around their homes,” he also mentioned the tabletop robotic device. Gurman now says Apple has recently prioritized the development of the device, with Apple Vice President of Technology Kevin Lynch overseeing the project. Lynch has previously overseen several other projects, including the Apple Watch, and Apple’s now-terminated “Apple Car” self-driving vehicle venture.
In April, Gurman said that Apple had an idea to make the tabletop robot’s display “mimic the head movements” of a person on a FaceTime video call. The report also said Apple executives were hotly debating whether to develop such a device and the company has faced technical challenges related to “balancing the weight of a robotic motor on a small stand.”
In today’s article, Gurman said Apple is now looking to have the device hit shelves as soon as 2026 or 2027 and is targeting a price of around $1,000, though plans may change as the project moves forward.