Apple is reportedly exploring humanoid robots
Apple is investigating both humanoid and non-humanoid robot form factors. New scoop From longtime Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Intel comes to heels Research paper “Inhumane Form” from iPhone makers exploring human interactions with robots, especially Pixar-style lamps.
Apple’s research paper highlights the elements that can inform the final consumer robots, but this work mainly focuses on advances from companies that are still embedded in the early research phases of complex fields. It’s shining light. Kuo is qualified for this work as an “early proof of concept,” and Apple Car Project It was effectively abandoned Similarly, at the early stage. Citing “current progress and typical development cycles,” Kuo projects 2028 as an optimistic timeline for mass production.
Rumors and other things that make the robot unique compared to other early stage Apple projects Foldable iPhone – A level of transparency from the infamous tight apples. (This is the same company that recently requested a public apology from a former iOS engineer as part of a legal settlement. Who leaked the details About Vision Pro. )
That is inevitable. Robotics progress is supported by university and research facilities work along with behind the scenes corporate projects. Over the past few years, many robotics companies have faced difficulties hiring fast enough to support the accelerated release timeline in the age of generator AI. Publishing research for the public to read is a great resource for recruiting engineers.
Kuo suggests that the research paper is designed to distinguish between robotic and humanoid research by using “inhumane formation” qualifiers.
“The industry is debating the benefits of humanoid and non-humanoid designs, but supply chain checks show more about how Apple builds awareness with robots than physical appearances (…) Sensing hardware and software are core technologies.”
Broadly speaking, “anthropomorphism” can be applied to robotic systems that are more than normally classified as humanoids. This includes systems affected by human characteristics, but not one-to-one humanoids with two arms, two legs and faces. Apple appears to be in the “throwing to the wall” phase, with work from simple systems to complex humanoids.
Kuo has widely designated its proof of concept system as part of its “future smart home ecosystem.” It’s from a complete humanoid designed for housework Smart home display with mechanical arms. Leaks around the work suggest the latter. This is much more plausible than leaving the gate with a humanoid that can fold laundry. Products like this could be on a distant roadmap, but to get there, Apple first needs to prove that people want home robots that aren’t just vacuums.
Many companies building industrial humanoids, including 1X, figures and Apptronik, are studying the road from factory floor to home. Pricing and reliability are two main points of sticking. If you think the $3,499 Vision Pro is a difficult medicine to swallow, wait until you see the first humanoid in your home. For now, the goal is to expand reliable industrial humanoid production. This will lower prices over time.
It’s fair to assume that Apple is taking a careful approach to robots after abandoning Apple Car and stumbling out of the gate on both Vision Pro and Apple Intelligence. While Apple has a solid track record of popularizing existing product categories, Silicon Valley is littered with the shells of failed home robots. The same can be said for the Smart Home category.
One thing that can certainly be said is that Apple is actively exploring robotics. Beyond that, we are looking forward to perhaps at least three years of leaks and speculation.