Apple Launching Robot Virtual Companion in 2027

[ArtOfWarfare]

*Bold face mine

Please explain how it was a "massive flop".

People on MacRumors forget it exists half the time. I periodically think "Oh yeah, did they ever ship that?"

And then I remember "Oh yeah, they did... why?"

It's the kind of garbage I expect from Google or Facebook.

 

[Robert.Walter]

This sounds utterly pointless. If Steve were still running the company, it'd never ship and I'd guess he would have killed it years ago when it was apparent there was no real vision.

But he isn't. This is the same Apple that brought us Siri, HomePod, and VisionPro, so you can be sure that they'll ship this nonsense.

(Apple acquired Siri about 18 months before Steve passed, but he never presented Siri, and I doubt we'd be talking about Siri this way today, 14 years later, if Steve had stuck around... they'd either actually improve it, or kill it, but I think most likely it just never would have shipped.)

Steve brought us Siri.

 

[Phineasgage1848]

Wow that’s clearly why they published that research video in Jan! The expressiveness looks incredible. YouTube link isn’t original source, that’s on the apple link.

https://machinelearning.apple.com/research/elegnt-expressive-functional-movement

 

[AgentBurt]

Could be interesting for sure!

 

[Phineasgage1848]

Could be interesting for sure!

great minds think alike!

 

[GioGiusi]

A stationary robot assistant is not interesting. When it can walk around and do laundry, they'll actually have something.

 

[SBlue1]

Interesting!

 

[victorvictoria]

I guess if you have no family and no friends, you might want to spend a fortune on one of these. And maybe one of these:

https://www.rosemarydoll.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=10804707092&gbraid=0AAAAACQ3YvgtfBvlKX_UdL_B1uTKcXFHJ&gclid=CjwKCAjw7_DEBhAeEiwAWKiCC2ou3z__DIWrcl2glPzpcV2x35j5BCg8uZ2SQisKo9NUmJ7YGICRyhoCMwoQAvD_BwE

 

[Steakface McToenailtongue]

There's a reason they kept shutting off C3P0 to have serious discussions.

 

[BGrifter]

The smartphone is literally the biggest human innovation since the printing press, and Apple was hugely instrumental in that.

I don’t think you realize how many important things were invented after the printing press.

It’s cool Apple invented a better BlackBerry. But in that period humans invented airplanes, modern medicine, the Internet, the personal computer and a whole lot more.

 

[Billy_Bob]

Apple is working on a mobile robot with wheels

ProRobot: $1,999
Optional wheels kit: $699

 

[Dr Nobody Important]

Do not need one of these and therefore I will not purchase one. I really do not see them selling all that well.

 

[robd003]

I think it's time for Tim Cook to step down

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

The comments on this site are funny.

It's "Apple never innovates anymore" vs "Nooo they are throwing things against the wall to see what sticks"

None of this has been publicly announced and like the Apple Car and portless iPhone that everyone was up in arms about on this site - some or even all of the above may die on the R&D floor.

Shame on Apple if they aren't at least researching the viability of what these potential products could be.

As the meme goes, "you could teleport and people be like, he can't afford a car".

 

[jjwwqq]

Well, this will be creepy and annoying.

 

[dogstar]

nobody asked for this

The reason they are doing this is to prepare us for the actual robots that they want us to mortgage to our hilts to pay for some day.

 

[darngooddesign]

Sounds fun, look forward to seeing it.

 

[cogzero]

A robot companion. One arm. Extends only 6 inches.

Gurman needs a vacation.

 

[Steakface McToenailtongue]

Wait, I just realized how bad this could get. No, no, no, God no.

 

[Jumpthesnark]

I can't wait for these things to lose fights to cats, and end up on the floor.

In this scenario, I am on the cats' side.

 

[Pezimak]

Wow, really? This is what they have come up with? What a waste of money and resources. I can see it using endless cheesy crap Apple emojis for its face already.

 

[Plerf]

Ngl, this is at least interesting.

Apple needs to diversify its product line.

 

[Ghengis LeMond]

A stationary robot assistant is not interesting. When it can walk around and do laundry, they'll actually have something.

If they manage to put Siri’s ‘brain’ in a walking prototype, I guarantee it will not wind up where it was intending to go.

 

[nerdAFK]

Meanwhile at Tesla in 2025 already...

And Optimus V3 is coming soon

 

[Brien]

Anyone else thinking this and the Home Hub are the same thing?

An iMac-like display that moves to follow your eyes seems very Apple.