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Elevate Magazine
May 2, 2024

Home Robots Could Be Apple’s Next Big Thing

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Tech giant Apple is reportedly working to create home robots, calling this potential development its “next big thing” after it halted its electric car project, “Project Titan,” in February 2024.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, a source close to Apple, the company’s engineering, AI, and machine learning divisions have reportedly been in the works to create a mobile robot that can follow users around their homes. They are also exploring an advanced tabletop home device that uses robotics to autonomously move a display around. 

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The idea behind the smart display innovation is to copy a person’s movement, such as reacting during a FaceTime call. It would also include a feature that zooms in on a specific person in a group during video conferences. 

The initial concept for the home robot was a videoconferencing device that could navigate within a space. Some engineers at Apple have also envisioned a robot that could handle household chores, such as cleaning dishes, but the feasibility of such a product in the near future is unknown. 

While Apple’s plans are still in the early stages and the device’s release dates remain uncertain, Gurman notes that Apple is facing pressure to discover new sources for revenue growth following the setbacks faced with the electric vehicle project, the reported decline of the iPhone’s sales, especially in major market China, and the Apple Vision Pro spatial computer’s returns, initiated by a surprising number of enthusiasts.

Domestic robots are nothing new. The Wakamaru robot, for instance. Developed by Mitsubishi, the Wakamaru is designed to recognise 10,000 Japanese words, identify eight family members by voice or face, and send photographs to the user’s mobile phone. Another example is iRobot’s Roomba, an autonomous vacuum cleaner that Amazon tried to obtain in 2022. 

Indeed, Apple’s shift in robotics could aid in acquiring a larger exposure to consumers, especially those who target home automation, as well as maximising the development of artificial intelligence.