Apple (AAPL) is reportedly developing a desktop robot codenamed J595 that combines an iPad-like display and a robotic arm, which can tilt the display up and down and rotate 360 ​​degrees. It is designed to be a smart home center, providing video conferencing and remote home security monitoring functions.

Apple has currently invested in a development team of hundreds of people and plans to keep the price of the device around $1,000, and it is expected to be launched as early as 2026.

The desktop device will have the following features:

• Rotating display: Provides the best viewing angle.
• Voice commands: Control smart home devices through Siri.
• Integrate multiple smart home products: Provide a comprehensive home management solution.
• Security monitoring function: Enhance home security.

The project is led by Kevin Lynch, Apple's vice president of technology, who was in charge of Apple's self-driving car project and led the core team of Apple Watch to participate in the development. Lynch's boss is John Giannandrea, head of Apple AI, and the hardware part of the project is supervised by Matt Costello, who is responsible for the development of the HomePod smart speaker.

However, despite the support from senior management, the high price of the product still caused concerns among some team members, who were worried that the market would not accept it well.

In addition to desktop robots, Apple is also studying mobile home robots and even exploring the possibility of humanoid robots. These projects are led by robotics expert Hanns Wolfram Tappeiner and are managed by about 100 engineers from the former self-driving car team.

Apple is actively recruiting experts with experience in robot control and AI model development to promote the development of robotic systems.