Apple Ramps Up Hiring for Work on Home Robotics Devices

[MacRumors]

Apple has been ramping up hiring for its robotics research and engineering teams to help spur the development of home robotics devices, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

The company is currently in the early stages of developing a tabletop robot and has its sights set on potentially creating a humanoid model in the future.

The robotics work is being spearheaded by two departments within Apple: the Home Labs hardware engineering group and Kevin Lynch's AI special projects team. These teams originated from Apple's now-defunct self-driving car unit, which was disbanded last February.

Over the past several weeks, Apple has posted numerous job listings for robotics specialists, stating that new hires will have "the opportunity to work with a small team of highly skilled engineers and scientists to bring new experiences to Apple products."

Last month, a team of robotics researchers at Apple published a research paper and accompanying video showcasing a lamp-like robot prototype with lifelike movements. The robot, reminiscent of Pixar's mascot Luxo Jr., demonstrates various interactions with a person, such as responding to weather inquiries, providing lighting for iPhone photography, reminding the person to drink water, and even dancing along to music as a social companion.

While the research paper provided a glimpse into Apple's robotics experimentation, Gurman has previously reported that the company is developing a tabletop robot with an "iPad-like display" attached to a robotic limb. This device, which could launch by 2027, is expected to be primarily controlled with Siri and Apple Intelligence, with the ability to respond to commands like "look at me" during FaceTime video calls.

Gurman believes Apple's tabletop robot is likely to be something closer to a HomePod smart speaker with a screen attached to a robotic limb, and it could turn out to be a higher-end version of Apple's rumored smart home hub, which is expected to launch this year.

Article Link: Apple Ramps Up Hiring for Work on Home Robotics Devices

 

[FloridaScrubJay]

This all seems silly.

 

[Blackstick]

Apple would never allow this to look like an iMac G4, because then people would demand a redesigned iMac.

 

[gleepskip]

This all seems silly.

This will be AVP territory: priced far higher than normies would spend and solves a problem that can be achieved with far cheaper products. And just like the AVP when the wow wears off...

 

[cardfan]

This will be AVP territory: priced far higher than normies would spend and solves a problem that can be achieved with far cheaper products. And just like the AVP when the wow wears off...

What wow? Kinda not seeing it. At least the AVP delivered on that.

 

[neuropsychguy]

I’ll be disappointed if Apple does not release a product called iRobot.

/yes, I know that won’t happen because of Roomba’s trademark, but maybe Apple would buy Roomba and get it (not saying Apple should do that).

 

[darngooddesign]

I REALLY wish someone would make a SmartConector-powered iPad dock with good speakers that looked like that.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

I’ll be disappointed if Apple does not release a product called iRobot.

/yes, I know that won’t happen because of Roomba’s trademark, but maybe Apple would buy Roomba and get it (not saying Apple should do that).

Maybe Apple can buy iRobot and design a Roomba that I won't come home to dry-humping the stand on our sun room table.

This follow-you-around-the-room iMac looking thing that dances? Nah..

 

[DelayedGratificationGene]

Sounds very promising. Might be able to get some significant savings on home efficiency. Security and safety enhancements also.

 

[gleepskip]

What wow? Kinda not seeing it. At least the AVP delivered on that.

I agree there's no actual wow, but the expressive novelty will wear off and you'll wonder why you spend 4 figures on a toy.

 

[nt5672]

Can we just go ahead and get to the part where 2 years later nothing useful has been released so the project has been cancelled.

 

[Velin]

Ignore the negative. I'm looking forward to what these Apple teams can produce. And I hope at least a couple projects are moonshots -- some truly advanced robot that could reduce or eliminate a mundane task, be flawless at it, and be affordable.

Also, would rather Apple work on something like this, instead of burning tens of billions on an LLM. Look how that worked out for some of the Mag 7.

 

[211]

For this to work, Apple really needs to concentrate on a home ecosystem, where it is easy to set up and everything works. Unless Apple comes up with a whole load of products for home automation soon (doorbell, garage door, lights, heating, blinds, etc.), which I doubt, it needs to work really closely with 3rd parties. Matter hasn't been the silver bullet everyone has been hoping for

 

[iToph]

oh lord....

 

[Zc456]

Last I checked, our technology is no where close to creating Rosie the Robot.

 

[citysnaps]

Good move on Apple's part. This could go very far, in a variety of disciplines.

 

[dannyyankou]

Other than moving the camera for video calls, I don’t see the value of the robotic function. And even then, you can just put an ultra wide camera in there and do center stage.

 

[needsomecoffee]

Under the purview of Kevin L. Amazing how little change there has been in Apple executive mgmt. Tim, Craig, Kevin, Eddie, Kevin, Phil, etc. Will be interesting to see what happens should they retire enmass within a year or two window.

 

[rp2011]

This will be AVP territory: priced far higher than normies would spend and solves a problem that can be achieved with far cheaper products. And just like the AVP when the wow wears off...

AVP will eventually become somewhat mainstream. It's just early. It's a good first gen. I will definitely get one once it matures and there is a decent ecosystem for it.

 

[G5isAlive]

Not feeling it.. but rather judge actual products than idle speculation. Now if it pours me a drink, I’m in! Shaken not stirred Robbie…

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Not feeling it.. but rather judge actual products than idle speculation. Now if it pours me a drink, I’m in! Shaken not stirred Robbie…

"I don't know what you mean by mistaken assured. Here's what I found on the web for mistaken assured."
"No shaken... SHAKEN!"
"I don't know what you mean by bacon, bacon. Here's what I found on the web for bacon, bacon."
"No... um... well... bacon. ♥️♥️♥️

And when you post this sequence on a forum, the usual 10 or 20 guys will spin YOUR mistake and/or tout Apple bacon as the one and only good bacon.

 

[Mr_Ed]

I’ll be disappointed if Apple does not release a product called iRobot.

/yes, I know that won’t happen because of Roomba’s trademark, but maybe Apple would buy Roomba and get it (not saying Apple should do that).

How about “iHaveNoFriends”?

 

[HiVolt]

This all seems silly.

Seems "Apple Car" silly.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I'm envisioning an Apple robot that, like the rest of us, also starts getting frustrated with how inept Siri is

Sort of "sibling complaints" in this case I guess?

😂

 

[lkrupp]

"Apple has been ramping up hiring for its robotics research and engineering teams to help spur the development of home robotics devices, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman."

Shades of the Apple Car “project” that went bye bye.