American tech company Apple is considering the development of humanoid and non-humanoid robots for smart home devices as it builds up its robotic department with an eye for the future.
The company reportedly places more emphasis on how people view robots than on their physical appearance, emphasizing sensor technology over humanoid designs based on supply chain knowledge.
Because Apple is being so transparent about its research in order to attract talent at the proof-of-concept stage, it may not market its first robotic device until 2028.
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According to Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo on X, today, Apple is “exploring both humanoid and non-humanoid robots.” He noted that these potential robots are in the proof-of-concept stage.
“While the industry debates the merits of humanoid vs. non-humanoid designs, supply chain checks indicate Apple cares more about how users build perception with robots than their physical appearance,” Kuo writes. “(so Apple uses anthropomorphic instead of humanoid), implying sensing hardware and software serve as the core technologies.”
Kuo claims that, if one is released at all, we won’t see an Apple robot until 2028. “Apple has been unusually open about sharing some of its robotics research during the early POC stage—possibly to attract talent,” he states.