Apple plans tabletop robot companion for 2027

Bloomberg reports Apple is developing a tabletop robot with a moving display, aiming for a 2027 release.

Apple Plans Tabletop Robot Companion for 2027

Apple is developing a tabletop robot that mounts a 7‑inch display on a movable arm. The arm can rotate and extend about six inches in any direction, letting the device reposition to face the person speaking. Inside Apple, the project is nicknamed the Pixar Lamp, a playful label for a device pitched as a more interactive version of a tablet or phone with memory and conversation abilities. The plan includes a visual personality for the AI and a tested Finder logo look as part of its identity. The Bloomberg report describes the device as a room presence that could interrupt a dinner plan to offer restaurant ideas or recipes and support back and forth planning tasks, similar to a voice mode from OpenAI.

The project signals a shift from single purpose gadgets to ambient AI helpers that participate in everyday conversations. If Apple pulls this off, homes could see a new class of device that blends display, mobility and memory into a single social assistant. At the same time, the ambition raises questions about privacy, data handling and how users will control a device that learns and remembers details. The timeline is fragile; past prototypes of this kind often slip, while Apple balances hardware readiness with software maturity across Siri and a growing AI stack.

Highlights

The road from prototype to daily life will reveal whether homes embrace a social AI as a trusted partner