Apple Inc. has shifted its focus towards exploring personal robotics for the home after the tech giant recently abandoned its long-running electric car project, Bloomberg reported.
The company is reportedly working on two distinct projects under its home devices group. One involves a mobile robot designed to follow and assist users around their homes, while the other is an advanced tabletop device with a moving display powered by robotics.
Apple Ventures Into Home Robotics
Both projects are still in their early stages, and it remains uncertain whether they will be released to the market.
Apple's decision to delve into home robotics follows its cancellation of the highly anticipated electric car project earlier this year.
This shift in strategy aligns with the company's broader vision for future revenue streams, particularly in light of its recent release of the Apple Vision Pro, a mixed-reality headset.
The company's pursuit of innovative ventures like robotics underscores its ongoing efforts to diversify its product offerings and stay competitive in evolving tech markets.
Apple's move into robotics represents a strategic pivot in its product roadmap, which had previously included a strong focus on automotive technology.
With the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning, the company aims to leverage these technologies to create intelligent and user-friendly home devices.
The development of these robotics projects is reportedly under the supervision of Apple's senior executives, including John Giannandrea, who leads the AI and machine-learning group.
Matt Costello and Brian Lynch, executives specializing in home products, are also overseeing hardware development for the robots.
Apple's Home Segment Performance
Apple's 'Wearable, Home, and Accessories' segment has been a significant revenue driver for the company. Statistics reveal that in 2022 alone, Apple generated a whopping $41.1 billion in revenue from this segment, Business of Apps reported.
This revenue surge reflects the growing demand for wearable technology, home accessories, and related products.
However, according to the outlet, Apple does not provide specific revenue breakdowns for individual products within this segment, and industry estimates suggest that key products like AirPods, Apple Watch, and Beats headphones are major contributors in this segment.
Apple's HomePod, meanwhile, has had a more restrained performance in the market. The company trails significantly behind market leaders such as Amazon and Google in terms of units sold, according to Business of Apps.
However, the release of the HomePod Mini has begun to make some progress for Apple, with approximately 13.6 million HomePod units sold in 2022, as per Strategy Analytics, signaling a modest uptick in sales compared to previous figures.
iPhones continue to be the primary revenue driver for Apple. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2024, iPhone sales constituted more than 58% of Apple's total revenue, making it the highest contributor among all Apple products, as per Statista.
This suggests that the sole area left for Apple to dominate is the home market. Apple's venture into home robotics reflects a larger trend within the tech sector, where AI-driven gadgets are becoming essential components of contemporary households.
This trend is exemplified by the presence of home robot models introduced by other tech giants like Amazon in recent years.
Companies such as iRobot, Samsung, and various others have also made notable progress in this domain, providing diverse robotic solutions tailored to consumers' needs.
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