Apple Exploring ‘Mobile Robot’ That ‘Follows Users Around Their Homes’

Apple is exploring various “personal robotics” projects in an effort to create its “next big thing,” according to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman.

One of these projects is described as a “mobile robot” that would “follow users around their homes,” while another is said to be an “advanced table-top home device that uses robotics to move a display around”:

Engineers at Apple have been exploring a mobile robot that can follow users around their homes, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the skunk-works project is private. The iPhone maker also has developed an advanced table-top home device that uses robotics to move a display around, they said.

Apple is investigating the use of artificial intelligence algorithms that would help robots “navigate cluttered spaces within people’s homes,” according to Gurman. He said Apple had a lofty goal of having robots be able to “handle chores, like cleaning dishes in a sink,” but he said this feat is unlikely this decade due to “extraordinarily difficult engineering challenges.”

As for the table-top device, Gurman said one idea was for its display to “mimic the head movements” of a person on a FaceTime video call.

The robotics projects are said to be in the very early stages of research, and it is unclear if any will ever be released. For now, they are just moonshot ideas, but they are fascinating ones for sure.