Apple continues to develop robots that use Siri and new AI. The work spans hardware, software, machine learning, and design. The plans include a tabletop device with a moving display and a robot arm for other tasks. The reports signal that Apple aims to make Siri more present in the home.
What Apple is building
Apple is testing a tabletop robot that has a screen on the end of an arm. The arm can rotate and tilt so the screen faces people in a room. The device may act as a smart display, a video call terminal, and a home hub. Apple also explores other robot forms. That list includes a wheeled assistant and larger arms for backroom work.
How the device would use Siri
Siri will be the main voice interface on these home devices. Apple wants Siri to hold longer conversations and to feel more natural. The company is testing visual faces for the assistant. One test used a face that resembled the Finder icon. Designers are also exploring avatars similar in style to Memoji. The visuals would give Siri a clearer presence during interactions.
Apple’s research team released a project that shows how a lamp-like robot can move with intent. The paper explains how small gestures and gaze mimic human cues. The team calls the work ELEGNT. The video shows how motion can help the device communicate without words. That research is a basis for the tabletop robot movement.
Why the project is delayed
Apple faces hard engineering and product challenges. Movement that looks natural is hard to do safely and quietly in a home. The company also needs advances in Siri and in its on device intelligence. Teams across hardware, software, machine learning, and design must work together. That coordination takes time. Bloomberg reports say the timeline has slipped and that Apple is still refining the concepts.
The moving display could follow people during a video call. The device could use camera input to keep a person centered in frame. Users would also be able to control the arm from an iPhone when they want. This would let the device act like a hands-free camera that turns to face whoever is speaking. The feature would extend Center Stage style tracking to a physical display.
Other robotic ideas inside Apple
Apple is not only testing a small tabletop device. The company looks at wheeled home robots that move around a space. It also prototypes larger arms for warehouses and for retail back rooms. Internal code names and team reports show that work is spread across many groups and that the projects have different aims and schedules.
Apple wants Siri to be a polite companion in a home setting. The company is studying how to give it a pleasing voice and a relatable visual identity. The approach includes a friendly face and smooth motion. Apple calls some internal UI work Bubbles. The team aims to avoid intrusive alerts and to make the robot feel like an ambient helper.
Safety privacy and practical limits
Robotic hardware with cameras and motion raises safety and privacy questions. Apple must build robust software checks and clear privacy controls. The company will also need to ensure that motion does not cause harm or annoyance. Power use and cost are practical hurdles, too. Apple must balance features against price and battery life for a product aimed at home use.
Reports suggest Apple aims to launch a tabletop device around 2027. That schedule could change. Apple may first ship a new smart display in 2026. Watch for more details in Apple press and in regulatory filings for parts suppliers. Leaks and prototype sightings will give the clearest hints before an official announcement.
What this means for consumers and the market
A moving screen with a capable assistant would change how people use video calls, home security, and smart home controls. Competitors already sell smart displays and home robots. Apple’s advantage could be tight integration with the devices and services it already makes. The product must be reliable, private, and affordable to win broad adoption.
Apple’s robot plans underline a larger push into AI and smart home hardware. The work is far from finished. The company must solve many engineering and safety issues before it ships. For now, Apple is testing prototypes and building the software and design that will make a robot fit into daily life.