Apple bets AI can finally make us want a smart home
Apple's big new hardware bet for the AI era is here, and it's a...smart display? Why it matters : Cue the time machine and let's head back to 2014, when Amazon's Alexa shocked the tech world and led us to imagine a Jetsons-style home would be ours in the near future. It wasn't, but Apple believes it could come soon. The iPhone maker is betting that modern AI can finally make good on that vision,…
Apple is entering the AI hardware race with a new lineup of smart home devices, including a $299 smart display, revamped speaker, updated streaming device and connected home accessories. The devices, developed in partnership with LG and Schneider Electric, aim to make smart home technology more accessible and user-friendly through advanced artificial intelligence.
Apple's HomeView smart display features a 7-inch screen and AI-powered Siri capable of controlling devices and providing personalized information. Apple has been working to simplify the setup and integration of its smart home devices, which could attract consumers who have previously been hesitant to invest in the technology. However, the smart home market has faced challenges in recent years, with sales of smart speakers and displays falling in 2024 and 2025.
While Apple's large customer base and reputation for simplifying complex technology may give it an advantage, it remains to be seen whether the company can convince consumers that they need another screen or speaker in their homes, rather than relying on their existing smartphones for AI capabilities.
Written by urgent.news from Axios's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
