According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, sources familiar with the matter revealed that Apple plans to soon launch a smart home hub centered around an all-new Siri AI assistant.
Sources also said that Apple is preparing to launch a new Apple TV and an upgraded HomePod mini. The two products will remain “largely unchanged from the current versions” in appearance, but will feature more powerful chips internally to support Siri AI functionality.
According to reports, Apple’s highly anticipated smart home hub is currently being developed in two versions. One features a hemispherical base with a screen mounted on top; the other is mounted on a wall using an all-new magnetic attachment system. The device is reportedly equipped with a 7-inch square display and built around Siri AI. It will run an operating system newly developed based on tvOS, with an interface combining design elements from tvOS and watchOS, along with support for apps, icons, and widgets.
In addition, the device will support FaceTime video calls, home security monitoring, the HomeKit smart home ecosystem, and customizable watch faces similar to those on the Apple Watch.
The most notable new feature is expected to be facial recognition. According to reports, the device will be able to identify the person looking at the screen, determine the distance between the user and the screen, and adjust the displayed interface in real time. The system will automatically adjust the size and presentation of information based on the viewer to provide a better browsing experience, while also displaying personalized content such as the current user’s calendar and notes.
Finally, the report revealed that Apple is also developing two other smart home products, which will launch later. These include a more premium robotic home hub with a 9-inch display and a more advanced home security camera.
Apple reportedly plans to launch the new Apple TV and HomePod mini this fall, while the smart home hub will be released between October and early next year.
This move will put Apple in more direct competition with Amazon and Google in a market where artificial intelligence technology is rapidly advancing. Apple’s new smart devices will compete with Amazon’s EchoShow and Google’s NestHub.