Apple Inc. AAPL is reportedly exploring the development of humanoid and non-humanoid robots for its future smart home ecosystem, according to a post by TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
What Happened: On Wednesday, Kuo posted on X that Apple is focusing on how users perceive and interact with robots, rather than their physical design. He emphasized that the tech giant is prioritizing sensing hardware and software as the core technologies for these potential products.
Apple did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for comment.
However, Kuo cautioned that these products are still in the early proof-of-concept (POC) stage internally at Apple. He suggested that the timeline from POC to formal kick-off varies, and mass production of Apple’s robots likely won’t start until 2028 or later. The analyst also pointed out that the Apple Car remained stuck at the proof-of-concept stage and never moved forward.
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Why It Matters: Apple is considering a range of robotic systems, from simple devices to complex humanoids, as part of a future smart home ecosystem. Last week, a blog on Apple’s Machine Learning Research site revealed a robot in a video that resembled the Pixar lamp. The company is reportedly working on a smart home tabletop robot equipped with an iPad-like display and a robotic arm, suggesting Apple’s vision for AI-driven home automation.
The Tim Cook-led company’s venture into the robotics segment is seen as a move to compete with Tesla Inc. TSLA and its humanoid robot, Optimus. In October, Elon Musk posted a video on X demonstrating Tesla’s Optimus robot successfully navigating uneven terrain.
The company has been unusually transparent about its robotics research, possibly to attract top talent in the field. Previously, Bloomberg columnist Mark Gurman revealed that the company has ramped up its recruitment efforts and published multiple job openings for robotics specialists in recent weeks.
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