Yes, it is confirmed that Apple is looking to join the likes of Tesla, Nvidia, and Amazon to build AI-powered robots; however, the name of the robot isn’t confirmed to be “iRobot.” Already, iRobot is an official brand name of a series of Roombas’ fully automatic cleaning robots, commonly called robotic vacuums or Robovacs.
This new Apple robot will be small, more like a tabletop robot powered by the Siri AI assistant. The robot’s launch date hasn’t been announced yet, but rumors suggest it’ll launch by 2027. Rumours also have it that there’d be two versions of this home robot: One that’d be static and another that can move around, something like a humanoid.
So, what are the details we know about the upcoming Apple robots? And would it be called Apple iRobot? Following the typology of Apple products’ naming?
Is Apple Working on a new iRobot?
Apple is actually working on a small robot that can further “smartify” your smart home by integrating Apple’s AI assistant, Siri, into a tabletop robot that can probably move around the house to help with specific tasks. This is similar to what is already launched by Tesla, Nvidia, and Amazon.
The confirmation of this robot was made clear in Apple’s official press release earlier this year, where the company admitted to working on a non-humanoid “tabletop,” lamp-like robotic prototype. This device will be able to move and express simple emotions; for example, it dances to music, follows a user to shine light, and even “pushes” a glass of water toward the person or hangs its head “in faux sadness” when declined a task.
Now, those are the confirmed reports from Apple. However, leaks and analysts have suggested the device might be called an iRobot. Insiders like Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman mentioned that the “tabletop” robot is essentially an iPad-sized screen on a movable arm that follows you around.
A couple of other insights highlight that Apple is also prototyping an Astro-like wheeled robot that would roam the house, a potential humanoid assistant in the distant future. So, as gathered from the rumors, Apple might just be releasing two different robotic devices that are all centered on making smart homes, smarter.
Rumored Features and Capabilities
There have been quite a lot of rumors regarding this pretty little device; many speculate it will run on the new Apple Intelligence platform and will be fully operational via Siri prompts. Apparently, the robot will be a smart-home hub and personal assistant combined; you could say “Hey Siri” or use a screen UI to control HomeKit devices, play music, set reminders, etc., just like on an iPhone.
The robot’s camera and mic array would enable FaceTime calls (with special commands). For example, saying “look at me” would cause the robot arm to swivel and keep its screen pointed at the user during a video chat. Sensors are also expected to be on the device, as on VR headsets, for eye and hand tracking.
With roughly the size of an iPad screen with a movable arm, cameras, speakers, and possible sensors, all in a sleek, white design (Apple-style), this tabletop home robot is speculated to launch at a price around $1,000 or way higher.
| Rumored Feature | Potential Use Cases |
| Movable Touchscreen (iPad-like) | FaceTime video calls (screen follows user’s face), smart home control panel |
| Lifelike Siri Interface (LLM-powered) | Natural conversation, reminders, on-device AI queries (ChatGPT-like answers) |
| Expressive Movements/Animations | Entertainment (dancing, games), empathetic signals (nods, gestures) to impress the user |
| Cameras & Sensors | Home security monitoring, visitor/pet detection, object recognition |
| Wheelbase (mobile variant) | Roaming around the home, delivering items, and multi-room monitoring |
| Multi-user Recognition | Personalized greetings, customized content by scanning faces |
| Smart Home Hub Integration | Central control of lights, thermostats, and security via voice or touch |
| Audio/Microphone Array | Music playback, voice assistant queries, and ambient noise detection |
| Proximity & Obstacle Avoidance | Safe navigation around pets/people, charging dock homing |
Now, all these are speculations; Apple didn’t explicitly speak on the capabilities of this upcoming device. Instead, according to Bloomberg Insider reports, the whole idea of the device is to “bring AI to life in ways that other hardware makers haven’t.” A device Apple loyalists can place on a desk or kitchen counter and have it get work done and manage their day.
More like a new version of the Siri voice assistant that can inject itself into conversations between multiple people. The robot is expected to just be “another human” in a room, capable of listening and interrupting conversations between friends about dinner plans, say, and suggest nearby restaurants or relevant recipes. Sounds like a disruptive new tech?
When to Expect Apple iRobot
Well, all suggestions and rumors hint at 2027 being the launch year for this robot. While there are also reports of 2028 being the year. What we know for now is that Apple isn’t yet fully ready to release the robot in the next 2 years, and has yet to give clear details about the project, which is code-named J595.
What Else?
Apple hasn’t tapped into the generative AI niche yet, and is working to get into the blossoming niche; this might just be the company’s entry. But the name iRobot? That was just made up by influencers and leak enthusiasts to refer to the new tabletop robotics project J595 that Apple is currently working on. It’s not the official name of any Apple product, but Roomba’s.
