Apple is reportedly venturing into the arena of home robotics as it seeks a new groundbreaking product following the cessation of its autonomous vehicle venture earlier this year, according to Bloomberg’s sources. The company is exploring the development of a robot capable of moving around a user’s home, as well as a sophisticated tabletop device that can pivot its display through robotic means. This latter project is designed to simulate human head movements, particularly enhancing interactions during video calls by focusing on or zooming into specific individuals in a group.
This pivot towards robotics comes at a challenging time for Apple, which has faced a downturn in iPhone sales in China, a significant fine from the EU of nearly $2 billion, and an antitrust lawsuit from the DOJ since the onset of 2024. The company also recently shelved its long-standing, multimillion-dollar autonomous car project, Project Titan, redirecting its focus towards AI-driven products. This shift occurs as Apple is perceived to be trailing behind tech giants like OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google in the chatbot market.
The exploration of home robotics could represent Apple’s effort to rediscover its innovative edge. Initiatives in robotics began around 2019, with Doug Field, who later transitioned to an EV executive role at Ford, initially leading the charge. This team, tasked with innovating within the home product space, considered various technologies, including discreet indoor drones.
After Field’s departure in 2021, Apple has reportedly focused more on robotics applications within the home. One such idea was a versatile robot that could assist with household chores like dishwashing in addition to enabling video calls. This concept, however, was eventually dropped due to engineering challenges.
The future of Apple’s robotics endeavours to reach the consumer market remains to be seen. Yet, there are indications that Apple has begun laying the groundwork, including the reassignment of engineers from the discontinued car project to its robotics division. Furthermore, the SafetyOS, developed for autonomous driving capabilities, is said to be adaptable for use in robotics.
The concept of home robotics is not entirely new, with products such as iRobot’s Roomba vacuum cleaner and various smart home devices already familiar to many households. Apple’s recent ventures outside robotics, like the Vision Pro, have met with mixed reactions.
