Apple is in the active stages of developing an advanced desktop home device for smart homes, according to Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman. The device will look like a robotic arm with an iPad-like display.

The analyst emphasizes that senior Apple figures, including Vice President of Technology Kevin Lynch, are working on the project. He now heads a special unit of hundreds of workers who focus on work on the “hand”.

A team of engineers led by Matt Costello is also actively involved in the project.

What is known about the project?

• The robotic arm is designed to serve as a command center for the smart home, facilitating video conferencing and providing remote control of home security features.
• Described as a robot with a 360-degree rotating screen, the device is expected to be a better alternative to existing products such as Amazon’s Echo Show 10 and Meta’s discontinued Portal smart display.
• The project was approved by Apple in 2022 and active development began a few months ago. The device is expected to be released in 2026 or 2027; Apple is currently looking for ways to reduce its cost up to about $1000However, final plans may change even before the device hits the market.

Gurman says Apple’s industrial design team has been mulling over desktop robot concepts for years, but until now there has been no consensus on where to go in that direction.