Apple's new CEO John Ternus is pushing development of a home robot that the company aims to launch by 2027, potentially priced at $1,000 or more, according to people who worked on the project. The robot, code-named J595 and possibly called HomeView Ultra, would autonomously move around homes to support FaceTime calls and control lights when people enter rooms.
Prototypes first emerged in 2018 under former CEO Tim Cook's approval. The Information reports that Apple's engineering team has spent years refining software and adding AI capabilities to justify the high price tag, though the features remain limited compared to existing smart home devices.
Apple's robotics team is small. The company employs about 10 core roboticists, with many original members having left over the years. The software team is much larger at approximately 300 people.
Ternus also backs a separate project developing robots for household tasks like folding clothes, which would require robotic arms. The Information does not clarify whether Apple aims to build a general-purpose humanoid robot like startups 1X and Figure AI.
Development delays may push the launch to 2028. The core challenge remains unclear: whether enough customers will pay over $1,000 for a robot with limited household functions.