Apple's big AI home push: Upgraded Siri, Pixar-like robot, smart display and more — here's what we know
Look out, Alexa+, you may have some real competition now.
Siri is getting a major upgrade. Apple is reportedly overhauling Siri to make the assistant more conversational, expressive and intelligent; something critics have long demanded.
The company is now working with partners like ChatGPT's OpenAI and Claude's Anthropic to bring next-gen AI to its voice assistant. The overall aim is for a more lifelike Siri that can understand nuance, follow context and interact more naturally, perhaps finally catching up to competitors like ChatGPT and Gemini.
The first piece of Apple's smart home revamp could arrive as soon as next year: a six-inch smart display designed to act as a central hub. Think of it as Apple's answer to the Echo Show or Google Nest Hub, but with tight integration into Apple Intelligence, Siri and HomeKit.
Mounted on the wall or placed on a table, it will serve as your home's mission control for voice commands, visuals and smart device management.
If a smart display isn't enough, Apple is also developing a tabletop robot, and it's aiming for Pixar-level charm. Described as a motorized, lamp-like device that can swivel, track your movements and even dance, the robot would be powered by Apple Intelligence and the upgraded Siri. It's still a few years away (2027 is the target), but this could become Apple's most ambitious hardware project since the original iPhone.
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Apple is also planning to enter the home security market with a smart camera that's deeply integrated with its ecosystem. Set for a 2026 launch, the camera would reportedly work with Siri for voice control and utilize AI for smart notifications, facial recognition, and more, all while maintaining Apple's privacy-first approach at its core.
As iPhone sales flatten and AI heats up, Apple is making a bold play to lock users into a smarter, more connected ecosystem. These new devices would move Siri from a phone-based assistant to the core of your household, with a personality to match.
Still, Apple is entering a market where Amazon and Google have a major head start. Whether users embrace a dancing Siri lamp or trust Apple to monitor their homes will depend on how well these products actually work, and how natural Siri really feels after the upgrade.
Apple is finally entering the AI game by rebooting its entire smart home strategy. If the company can deliver on its lifelike AI promises, this could be the beginning of a new era of AI-powered living rooms.
But after years of missed opportunities, the pressure is on to get it right.
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