Apple Inc. is developing a new generation of artificial-intelligence hardware that ranges from household robots to security cameras, according to people familiar with the plans cited by Bloomberg. The initiative features a redesigned, more conversational version of Siri, a smart speaker equipped with a display slated for next year and a suite of home-security devices intended to automate domestic tasks and deepen consumer reliance on Apple’s ecosystem. The centrepiece is a table-top robot meant to act as a virtual companion; Apple is targeting a 2027 launch for the device. Engineers are also prototyping a mobile robot with wheels and a separate, large robotic arm that could be deployed in retail stores and manufacturing facilities. All of the products rely on software advances in generative AI that the company aims to roll out across its portfolio. Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook told employees this month that Apple "must win in AI," calling the forthcoming pipeline "amazing." The report lifted Apple’s shares nearly 2% to about $233.70 on Wednesday. Because none of the devices have been formally announced, the timelines and specifications could still change.