Apple Targets 2027 for AI Robot Amid Broad AI Strategy Rollout

Financial analyst Tony Wang of T. Rowe Price expressed confidence in Apple's capacity to deliver a premium artificial intelligence experience, stating, "Apple still has a lot of ways to deliver a premium AI experience." This sentiment comes as Apple intensifies its efforts in the AI sector, rolling out a comprehensive strategy that spans both software enhancements and ambitious new hardware, including a tabletop robot slated for 2027. The company aims to integrate AI deeply across its ecosystem, addressing past criticisms regarding its position in the generative AI race.

At the core of Apple's software initiative is "Apple Intelligence," a suite of features designed to enhance user experience across iPhones, iPads, and Macs. These capabilities include advanced writing tools, image generation via Image Playground and Genmoji, Live Translation, and a significantly revamped Siri. Apple emphasizes on-device processing for many of these features, bolstered by "Private Cloud Compute" for more complex tasks, ensuring user privacy remains paramount.

Beyond software, Apple is charting a bold course into AI-powered hardware. Key among these planned devices is a tabletop robot, anticipated for release in 2027, envisioned as a virtual companion with a movable display and an interactive Siri. Additionally, a smart display is expected by mid-2026, alongside new AI-enabled home security cameras designed to compete with existing market leaders like Amazon Ring and Google Nest.

The ongoing overhaul of Siri is central to Apple's AI ambitions, with projects like "Linwood" focusing on in-house large language models and "Glenwood" exploring third-party AI systems, including Anthropic's Claude. This strategic push is seen as an an effort to restore Apple's innovation momentum and challenge rivals like Samsung and Meta in emerging categories. CEO Tim Cook has reportedly hinted at an "amazing" product pipeline, with some releases coming soon and others later.

Despite these advancements, some industry analysts remain cautious. Dan Ives, Head of Tech Research at Wedbush, suggested that Apple might need to pursue an acquisition to truly catch up in the AI domain. "Apple is massively behind," Ives stated, implying that internal development alone may not suffice to bridge the gap with other major tech players who have been more aggressive in generative AI.