Apple is investigating both humanoid and non-humanoid robotic form factors, according to a new scoop from longtime Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In the immediate aftermath of a research paper from iPhone makers, Intel investigates human interactions with “nonracial formation” robots, especially Pixar-style lamps.
Apple’s research paper highlights the elements that can inform the final consumer robots, but this work mainly focuses on advances from companies that are still embedded in the early research phases of complex fields. It’s shining light. Kuo considers the work as an “early proof of concept,” adding that the Apple Car project was similarly effectively abandoned in its early stages. Citing “current progress and typical development cycles,” Kuo projects 2028 as an optimistic timeline for mass production.
What makes the robot unique compared to other early stage Apple projects, such as the rumoured foldable iPhone, is its level of transparency from the infamous tight apples. (This is the same company that recently requested a public apology from a former iOS engineer who leaked details about Vision Pro as part of a legal settlement.)
That is inevitable. Robotics progress is supported by university and research facilities work along with behind the scenes corporate projects. Over the past few years, many robotics companies have faced difficulties hiring fast enough to support the accelerated release timeline in the age of generator AI. Publishing research for the public to read is a great resource for recruiting engineers.
Kuo suggests that the research paper uses the use of “inhumane form” qualifying, which is designed to distinguish robots from humanoid research.
“The industry is debating the benefits of humanoid and non-humanoid designs, but supply chain checks show more about how users build awareness with robots than with physical appearances. ”
Broadly speaking, “anthropomorphism” can be applied to robotic systems that are more than normally classified as humanoids. This includes systems affected by human characteristics, but not one-to-one humanoids with two arms, two legs and faces. Apple appears to be in the “throwing to the wall” phase, with work from simple systems to complex humanoids.
Kuo has widely designated its proof of concept system as part of its “future smart home ecosystem.” It makes sense for anything, from a fully humanoid designed for housework to a smart home display with mechanical arms. Leaks around the work suggest the latter. This is much more plausible than leaving the gate with a humanoid that can fold laundry. Products like this could be on a distant roadmap, but to get there, Apple first needs to prove that people want home robots that aren’t just vacuums.
Many companies building industrial humanoids, including 1X, figures and Apptronik, are studying the road from factory floor to home. Pricing and reliability are two main points of sticking. If you think the $3,499 Vision Pro is a difficult medicine to swallow, wait until you see the first humanoid in your home. For now, the goal is to expand reliable industrial humanoid production. This will lower prices over time.
It’s fair to assume that Apple is taking a careful approach to the robot after abandoning Apple Car and tripping over the gates on both the Vision Pro and Apple Intelligence. While Apple has a solid track record of popularizing existing product categories, Silicon Valley is littered with the shells of failed home robots. The same can be said for the Smart Home category.
One thing that can certainly be said is that Apple is actively exploring robotics. Beyond that, we look forward to perhaps at least three more years of leaks and speculation.
