The launch of a device that will be the centerpiece of Apple’s next foray into smart home technology reportedly got put on hold. The delay in the launch of the wall-mounted iPad-like computer is a result of Apple’s problems finishing work on an AI-enhanced version of the Siri voice assistant, according to a reliable source.
Apple’s wall-mounted smart home ‘command center’ hub delayed
Rumors first surfaced in late 2024 that Apple is working on an inexpensive, wall-mounted, tablet-like computer to be used as a hub to control smart home devices and make video calls. It will supposedly include a 7-inch display, and let users control HomeKit and Matter-compatible devices easily.
The launch of the hub was thought to be imminent, but apparently not.
“At one point, the company had hoped to announce this product in March. But because the device, to an extent, relies on the delayed Siri capabilities, it has been postponed as well,” writes Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in Sunday’s Power On newsletter.
Needs the AI-powered Siri
Word that the smarter Siri that Apple promised last year has been delayed came on Friday. It’s a serious blow to Cupertino’s efforts to show it can keep up in the artificial intelligence boom.
Although the home hub will include a touchscreen, users will also be able to interact with it with voice commands. An AI-powered version of Siri will be a highlight… when it’s available. The current version of the voice assistant is widely criticized for being too limited, especially in comparison with advanced AI chatbots like OpenAI ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and others. Apple has faced doubts before—just look at how Apple Cupertino was once predicted to be doomed by CNN’s now-infamous analysis.
In addition, homeOS — the smart display’s rumored operating system — will supposedly rely heavily on App Intents, Apple’s framework for weaving third-party apps into the Apple ecosystem. App Intents are part of the smarter Siri.
Apple anticipates the AI-enabled Siri launching “in the coming year.” When it does, the company’s tablet-like smart home hub will apparently reach customers.
Apple smart home plans
The search is on for new products to bolster Apple’s bottom line. The iPhone is the company’s cash cow, bringing in billions every quarter, but there’s little growth. Cupertino needs popular new products to increase its revenue.
Clearly, it’s last big attempt to break into a new market, the Vision Pro AR/VR headset, isn’t going to accomplish that any time soon, so Apple apparently turned to smart home products. It’s actually been in this space for years with HomeKit — a system to allow iPhones, iPads, etc. to control lights, fans and other appliances. And now the Matter standard has the potential to make home automation easier.
The smart home display could been the first in a series of new smart home products. There’ve also been reports of a HomePod smart speaker merged with an iPad on Apple drawing board.
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 25 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh Classic II (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer. He’s written for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview, and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
