Apple is reportedly planning to launch a revolutionary AI companion robot by 2027, marking a significant milestone in its foray into artificial intelligence. Bloomberg reported on August 13th that the device, codenamed "Pixar Lamp," features a 7-inch touchscreen and a rotatable robotic arm that can turn to the speaker like a human, enabling an unprecedented, humanlike interactive experience. Inspired by the vivid characters of Pixar animations, its design promises to revolutionize how people interact with AI.
Even more exciting is that the robot will not only be able to engage in fluent two-way conversations but also actively participate in everyday situations. For example, while friends are discussing dinner, it can offer real-time recommendations for nearby restaurants or recipes, demonstrating remarkable contextual understanding. Apple is also developing a new version of its Siri voice assistant, giving it the ability to remember user information and communicate naturally, making it a true AI companion.
In terms of the interactive experience, Apple is placing particular emphasis on designing "visual personality." The current test version uses an animated Finder icon as Siri's appearance, which can display a rich variety of emotions based on the conversation. The device also supports FaceTime video calling and features an automatic tracking feature similar to "centering the person," allowing it to intelligently move and follow the user during a call.
Notably, Apple's robotics strategy extends beyond this. The company is also developing large robotic arms with wheeled chassis, primarily for commercial applications such as manufacturing plants and retail stores. These moves demonstrate that Apple is comprehensively advancing its robotics strategy across both consumer-grade AI interaction and industrial-grade automation, laying a solid foundation for product launches in 2027.
