Apple’s AI Vision: Making Siri the Animated Heart of Your Smart Home

Apple is reportedly working on an ambitious range of AI-driven products that could make Siri the engaging centerpiece of your connected home, according to Bloomberg. While the company’s generative AI developments have trailed behind rivals, these upcoming projects signal a strong push into smart home innovation.

One standout concept is a tabletop robot resembling an iPad mounted on a movable arm, designed to follow users around a room. Earlier this year, Apple showcased research on a similar device, likened to a real-life Pixar lamp, capable of expressive movements — even dancing. Scheduled for a potential 2027 release, this robot would feature a visually interactive Siri, enabling more natural, conversational interactions similar to ChatGPT’s voice mode. Apple has experimented with animated designs for Siri, including a Finder logo character and Memoji-like avatars, all powered by advanced large language models (LLMs).

Beyond the tabletop assistant, Apple is exploring other robotics projects, including a wheeled robot akin to Amazon’s Astro, and has even discussed the possibility of humanoid robots.

By mid-next year, Apple plans to introduce a smart home display that can control connected devices, play music, take notes, and support video calls. This device, reportedly similar in size and design to a Google Nest Hub but with a square screen, could debut Siri’s new animated look. It may also run a multi-user operating system capable of facial recognition via a front-facing camera, allowing personalized content for each user.

Additionally, Apple is developing a fresh line of home-security products, including multiple types of cameras and other surveillance solutions, as part of an entirely new hardware and software ecosystem.

If successful, these innovations could transform Siri from a simple voice assistant into an animated, AI-powered companion at the center of Apple’s smart home vision.