The MacRumors Show: Apple's Next Big Thing – Robots?

[MacRumors]

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss Apple's recently rumored "personal robotics" projects, iOS 17.5, Apple Pencil rumors, and more.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos​

Apple is reportedly looking into personal robotics, such as a "mobile robot" that would "follow users around their homes" and an "advanced table-top home device that uses robotics to move a display around." In the long term, Apple apparently wants to create machines that can "handle chores, like cleaning dishes in a sink," but the robotics projects are said to be in the very early stages of research, and it is unclear if any of them will ever be released.

We also talk through the Beats Solo 4 headphones and Apple's upcoming iOS 17.5 update, which introduces web distribution in the EU, a color-changing Apple Podcasts widget, hints about next-generation iPad battery monitoring features and an upcoming Apple Pencil model, and third-party item tracker alerts. The MacRumors Show is now on its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips going forward:

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel!​

You can also listen to The MacRumors Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player.

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If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion about all of the rumors surrounding WWDC 2024 and iOS 18.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Kevin Nether, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Luke Miani, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Jon Prosser, Sam Kohl, John Gruber, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

The MacRumors Show is on X @MacRumorsShowhttps://twitter.com/macrumorsshow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.

Article Link: The MacRumors Show: Apple's Next Big Thing – Robots?

 

[Realityck]

Robots doing the dishes? We need product announcements badly.

 

[krspkbl]

This whole robot stalker thing is so weird. I don't want that from you Apple. Feels like they are out of ideas. The Vision Pro really could have been the next big thing and I mean replacing iPhone sales but that feels like it's dead... what a wet fart of a launch. The tech is amazing but the price reflects it. They can't just launch a $3,500 device and expect it to last.

Maybe they just need to go all in on services around their iPhone/Mac/iPad etc hardware. I know they've been transitioning to services but I mean more services/software focus instead of hardware. Stop locking down your software, improve it, and bring it over to more hardware (so not Mac/iPhone/iPad exclusive).

I really think Tim Cook should be leaving if he can't turn things around in the next 2-3 years. He's done a great job since Steve passed away but I think it's about time someone new comes in.

The next 10 years will be interesting for Apple for sure.

 

[Yvan256]

Apple making robots makes as much sense as Apple making cars, i.e. no sense at all.

The whole "expand or die" problem comes from the shareholders laws. Take Apple private and stop trying to increase profits for no other reason than increasing profits. This would allow Apple to make good decisions for their products and their users instead of being forced to make decisions that are based on profits alone.

 

[madmin]

If the robot looks like a Darlek, shouts EXTERMINATE often and is confounded by stairs I may consider it...

 

[Realityck]

Of course Gurman wants to spread these Apple Robotics rumors.

 

[mcfrazieriv]

"Stop making fetch happen." truly applies here.

 

[Fuzzball84]

Im not sold on Apple Robot….

Lets see what, if anything, they come up with.

Id much rather they continue to push the boundaries of technology on their traditional products…. Computers… laptops, desktops and tablets.

If only they could re introduce MacBook Retina with Apple silicon… it was basically the ideal form factor and segment for an Apple SoC… then they went and discontinued it.. then released the perfect SoC to put in it 😂😂🤣🤣

 

[krspkbl]

I do think robots are going to be a big thing in the future but i'm thinking 20-30 years from now.

AR/VR headsets could be the next big thing in the next 5-15 years. Don't give up on the Vision headsets... Put out a model that people can actually afford??

Robotics can be a long-long term goal but Apple should focus on the headsets.

 

[Realityck]

I do think robots are going to be a big thing in the future but i'm thinking 20-30 years from now.

AR/VR headsets could be the next big thing in the next 5-15 years. Don't give up on the Vision headsets... Put out a model that people can actually afford??

Robotics can be a long-long term goal but Apple should focus on the headsets.

This industry is already busy with robotics. Current examples represented in the below video. If Apple was developing a super quad ARM processor for a autonomous car, you have to wonder if not an Apple Car what else could they apply that to? Thats the basis for a lot of this home robotics speculation.

 

[Apple Mac Daz]

Apple with just cancel it after wasting millions

 

[Fuzzball84]

You cannot be Siri! Tim shouts at Apple Robot

🤔

 

[Fuzzball84]

What would sell is a feeding robot... a robot arm that picks up food and inserts it in a persons mouth. Then if you're eating sticky, greasy, slimey... or otherwise messy foods... your hands remain clean.

And you wouldn't have to expend energy either... as you can wear AVP while being fed by Apple Robot... you'd not need to get out of bed to go to work... Your persona can be a slim Jim, as fit as a fiddle and as sharp as a razor (courtesy of ML augmentation of your brain).. while your real body is big and wobbly... worse than jelly scrolling.

 

[boswald]

I wonder if Apple will spin off its health division and manufacture medical equipment…

 

[sjsharksfan12]

Can we please not make Terminator 2 or Battlestar Galactica documentaries? The whole idea of Apple Robot just seems dystopian to me. Of course where we are headed in the world today, maybe it was inevitable.

 

[Pakaku]

The only robot I want to see from Apple is a living Pixar desklamp iMac...

 

[Darren.h]

Apple Robot?? eh boy. everybody needs an expensive robot. they along with AI are already taking our jobs.

We will all be unemployed and home with our expensive robot.

Apple Solar Panels or backup battery would have been a smarter business Venture

Probably A Tim Cook Idea. Apple Robot.

 

[Fuzzball84]

Apple Robot?? eh boy. everybody needs an expensive robot. they along with AI are already taking our jobs.

We will all be unemployed and home with our expensive robot.

Apple Solar Panels or backup battery would have been a smarter business Venture

Probably A Tim Cook Idea. Apple Robot.

We will be at home being fed by robot, while another robot wipes our bottom... and another robot turns us over so we dont get bed sores.

There will be robots for servicing said robots... and the service robots will go in for servicing themselves at a place where big daddy robots will fix them up and send them back again. The big daddy robots will have been made by even bigger robots in India or China... and it will be there, that you will find a person who clicked go, on the touchscreen awaiting human input to proceed.

 

[Matsamoto]

Apple is doing a robot?
Or maybe an Android?😁

 

[Baretta]

Apple Robot?? eh boy. everybody needs an expensive robot. they along with AI are already taking our jobs.

We will all be unemployed and home with our expensive robot.

Apple Solar Panels or backup battery would have been a smarter business Venture

Probably A Tim Cook Idea. Apple Robot.

What we need is a robotic Cook removal appliance - to be operated by any of the billions of iPhone fans.

 

[sviato]

They can’t even get Siri right

 

[01241984]

Hey Siri get me a roll of toilet paper...

 

[leonremi]

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss Apple's recently rumored "personal robotics" projects, iOS 17.5, Apple Pencil rumors, and more.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos​

Apple is reportedly looking into personal robotics, such as a "mobile robot" that would "follow users around their homes" and an "advanced table-top home device that uses robotics to move a display around." In the long term, Apple apparently wants to create machines that can "handle chores, like cleaning dishes in a sink," but the robotics projects are said to be in the very early stages of research, and it is unclear if any of them will ever be released.

We also talk through the Beats Solo 4 headphones and Apple's upcoming iOS 17.5 update, which introduces web distribution in the EU, a color-changing Apple Podcasts widget, hints about next-generation iPad battery monitoring features and an upcoming Apple Pencil model, and third-party item tracker alerts. The MacRumors Show is now on its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips going forward:

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel!​

You can also listen to The MacRumors Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player.

​

If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion about all of the rumors surrounding WWDC 2024 and iOS 18.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Kevin Nether, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Luke Miani, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Jon Prosser, Sam Kohl, John Gruber, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

The MacRumors Show is on X @MacRumorsShowhttps://twitter.com/macrumorsshow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.

Article Link: The MacRumors Show: Apple's Next Big Thing – Robots?

 

[leonremi]

Think what you want of Musk as a person, but at least his products make sense.
Sometimes a lot of sense (SpaceX, Tesla, maybe Neuralink) sometimes a lot less (hyperloop, X everything app)…but even then, there is something interesting in those ideas.

Now, an Apple robot dish washer… that is just plain stupid.

 

[macabrumorsab]

This is the „unofficial“ Apple tactic. Each time they fall behind, or a competitor is short before releasing an actual product they try to link the subject to themselves, and hope that their fans remember the actual innovator as someone following Apple’s idea. It is much cheaper than innovating on their own.

In this case, the reason is very likely Samsung’s rumoured “Bot Fit Wearable”. Allegedly, Samsung will start the production of 100,000 units in the summer with expected delivery end of 2024 or early 2025.