New Apple Project: Could an iPad be the Next Innovation on a Robotic Arm?
Apple has faced difficulties with smart home devices and , but it seems that now they are . Recently, a reliable informant gave a hint about the company’s next big project: a large-screen iPad attached to a robotic table arm. This device, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), would be less like the and more like a with a screen that can rotate and pivot.
According to a report by Mark Gurman from , Apple has assigned hundreds of employees to this concept of an iPad with a robotic arm. Anonymous sources indicate that this arm would function as a “command center” for the smart home, combining a HomePod, a window for video calls, and a security tool, all in one. Imagine an Amazon or a Pixel Tablet, but on a slim mechanical arm with actuators to move it.
Apple allegedly approved the idea in 2022, but the project gained momentum after the cancellation of the brand’s electric car. This shift aligns with Apple’s move toward AI, called Apple Intelligence. The device is likely to use AI and Siri, now powered by AI, to follow user instructions.
CEO Tim Cook backs the initiative, along with John Ternus, head of hardware engineering, and Kevin Lynch, vice president of technology, who also led Apple’s smart car project. Matt Costello, vice president of hardware engineering responsible for the HomePod, oversees the hardware part of the project.
### Apple’s Risky Bet
While smart home technology has not been a major revenue generator for many tech companies, Apple continues to bet on this path. For example, Amazon has lost billions with its Echo line, which tried to put Alexa in millions of homes through cheap devices. Now, Amazon is looking to enhance Alexa with AI, just like Apple and Samsung.
The current test version of Apple’s device supposedly uses a modified version of , known to be less versatile than macOS. Although the software may work better on a mobile arm, Apple would need to significantly modify it to make it agile enough.
This device is expected to be launched between 2026 and 2027, with an estimated price of $1,000. Despite the innovation, the idea of a robotic arm with a screen harkens back to 1950s futuristic technology a la The Jetsons, which may seem less relevant in the current era of smartphones.
