Coming in 2027: Apple’s $1,000 home robot for FaceTime and switching on lights
Apple robot backed by CEO John Ternus may have hefty price tag and limited uses.
TL;DR
- Apple is developing a home robot, possibly named HomeView Ultra, with potential features like FaceTime support and automatic light control.
- The robot, codenamed J595, is reportedly aimed for a 2027 launch with a price tag of $1,000 or more.
- Prototypes emerged in 2018 and received approval from former CEO Tim Cook.
- The project faces challenges in justifying its high price due to seemingly limited capabilities compared to existing smart home devices.
- Apple's team consists of around 10 'true roboticists' and approximately 300 software engineers.
- CEO John Ternus is also supporting a separate project for robots capable of household tasks like folding clothes.
- The company's focus on a limited-purpose robot is seen as a safer initial step than developing a general-purpose humanoid robot.