Home robots the 'next big thing' for Apple? A table-top device is reportedly in the works
Apple logo is pictured in an store in Paris, France (File image)
Months after Apple abandoned decades of work towards building a self-driving electric car, it has emerged that the world's second biggest company by market cap is looking for its "next big thing" in potential home robots, Bloomberg reported.
The report added that Apple's hardware engineering division and AI and machine-learning group are working together on the potential new product.
Apple is reportedly building a prototype for a table-top home device that can move a display around using robotics.
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Last year, Apple reported two per cent growth in sales, breaking its four-quarter streak of declining revenue.
But all is not well for Apple in China. Its sales in the world's second-biggest economy dropped from $23.9 billion to $20.8 billion in the last quarter of 2024.
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The iPad sales also dropped to $7 billion from $9 billion in the same quarter in the previous year.
What does it mean?
This could potentially help the company introduce another Apple device in the homes of its consumers.
But it still won't be the first company to do so.
Amazon in 2021 launched a robot called the Astro, a screen in the automobile that works with the Alexa software.
It is not yet clear as to what Apple’s robot would look like if it makes it to the shelves.
Amazon's Astro did not taste success but other home robots, such as iRobot's Roomba — a home cleaning robot — has found great success with sale of about 40 million units according to the company.
Also watch |Decoding India's rise as Apple's go-to consumer market
Amazon also attempted to acquire iRobot but the acquisition could not happen due to regulatory issues.
Meanwhile, the Apple Vision Pro, the company’s latest product offering about the virtual reality/augmented reality has been a relative success.
Despite its price tag of $3,500, it sold more than 150,000 units on opening weekend, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
(With inputs from agencies)