Smart Home Strategy: Apple Bets on Screens and AI

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Key Takeaways

  • Apple is reportedly set to focus on a breakthrough in the smart home market, an area in which it is yet to fulfill its potential.
  • The tech giant has been developing a 'robot arm' device.
  • Apple Intelligence will propel the range of products to be a consistent, all-in-one solution connecting devices throughout the home.

Apple appears to have settled on a new approach to make a significant impact in the smart home market, with a proliferation of screens throughout the home backed up by AI.

With competitors such as Amazon and Google making forward strides but not wholly dominating the product space, Apple needs to strike a blow and fill the current void.

As reported by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his weekly Power On newsletter, the Cupertino-based tech multinational wants to place many screens with effective software in the house to create a consistent experience.

Apple has mastered the iPhone, as well as smart devices worn on the wrist, and several others, but it is yet to make its mark in the home market. Its Vision Pro is still to prove its worth, with the HomePod smart speaker and Apple TV set-top box only registering limited demand.

Gurman expects the company to make a sustained push over the next two years in this space, including a new homeOS operating system and display. That will be complemented with a premium tabletop product.

A project referred to as J595 detailed the device, which will be fully loaded with Apple Intelligence and Siri features. The ‘robot arm’ is anticipated to provide further functions, acting as a security tool, a videoconferencing machine, and more.

It is expected to cost around $1000.

Apple Has It All To Prove

Another smart home device release, tipped to be an “affordable iPad-like screen,” will be equipped to stream content from the Apple TV app, make FaceTime calls, and perform other familiar tasks.

A key route to success for Apple will be to ensure the new product can work and co-exist with as many other smart devices and systems as possible. To remedy that issue, Apple has collaborated with Amazon and Google to develop a smart home protocol known as Matter to allow the respective devices to co-exist.

Another important pillar will be the implementation of advanced tech with Apple Intelligence set to propel the thorough home automation system. It has the ability to unlock features across many apps using Siri.

The other component that will contribute toward Apple’s success will be the software, a new homeOS built on the structure of tvOS, as featured in the Apple TV set-top box.

Apple has it all to prove in the home market, and it faces a formidable challenge in bringing its vision to reality.