Apple has reportedly launched a secret project to develop a personal robot, as the iPhone maker looks to find the “next big thing” after a failed foray into making self-driving electric cars.
Mobile robots will be able to follow people around the house. According to Bloomberg News.
The Cupertino, Calif.-based tech giant faces pressure to produce revenue-generating products that follow the iPhone, Mac and Apple with new desktop home devices that use robotics to move the display. We are also working on development. Look, the outlet reported.
Smart displays are believed to be even more advanced than mobile robots, which are in the early stages of development and kept secret, people told Bloomberg.
Apple’s robotics efforts are handled by the company’s hardware engineering division and AI and machine learning division, overseen by John Gianandrea.
According to Bloomberg News, hardware development was overseen by Matt Costello and Brian Lynch.
It’s unclear when, if ever, Apple plans to bring mobile robots to market.
The Post has reached out to Apple for comment.
Apple stock was up nearly 1% as of 10:30 a.m. ET Thursday.
Apple’s stock price has fallen 8% since January 1, while other Silicon Valley rivals such as Nvidia and Microsoft have soared thanks to the AI boom.
In February, Apple paused its efforts to produce electric vehicles, making progress in compatibility and startability but ultimately failing to bring the product to market in the highly competitive EV space. This marks the end of a 10-year effort.
The company has also received mixed reviews for its $3,500 Vision Pro augmented reality goggles, with many early adopters complaining about the headset’s comfort and lack of apps.
Apple’s robot venture has been compared to Amazon’s AI-powered robot Astro. Astro is a $1,000 robot that can hear, see, and follow you around your house.
Introduced in 2021, Astro uses cameras, sensors, and artificial intelligence to avoid walls and dogs.
The 17-inch-tall robot is equipped with two wheels and a compartment that can carry cans of soda and snacks from room to room.
Last year, Amazon introduced a business version of Astro ($2,350 each) that doubles as a security guard.
But Astro has so far remained a niche product that Amazon produces in limited quantities.
Apple has so far refrained from making big moves in the AI space, in stark contrast to tech giants like Alphabet and Microsoft, which have first-mover advantages in introducing breakthrough technology.
That quiet approach has raised concerns that the iPhone maker is lagging in integrating the technology into its products.
Microsoft overtook Apple as the world’s most valuable company earlier this year as the iPhone maker grappled with weak demand for its core products, especially in its key market of China.
with post wire
