Apple is preparing an aggressive return to artificial-intelligence hardware, devising a roster of new devices that range from household robots to a redesigned, conversational version of Siri, according to a Bloomberg report citing people familiar with the plans. The initiative is meant to close the gap with rivals Amazon and Google in the smart-home market and marks the company’s most ambitious hardware roadmap since the iPhone. The centerpiece is a tabletop robot—internally codenamed J595—slated for a 2027 launch. Roughly the size of an iPad mini on a motorized arm, the device can swivel to follow users, handle FaceTime calls and serve as a virtual companion. It will run an all-new Siri powered by large language models (project Linwood) and given a visual personality dubbed “Bubbles,” enabling multi-party conversations and context-aware suggestions. Ahead of the robot, Apple aims to ship a seven-inch smart display hub (J490) in mid-2026. The square-shaped device will run a multi-user operating system called Charismatic that centers on widgets, voice control and facial recognition. Apple is also testing a suite of battery-powered security cameras and a Ring-style doorbell (J450) that can automate lighting and unlock doors with on-device facial recognition. Beyond the home, engineers are developing a large mechanical arm, code-named T1333, for use in retail stores and manufacturing lines. Kevin Lynch, a veteran of the Apple Watch and the aborted car project, oversees the wider robotics effort. Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook recently told staff that the forthcoming product pipeline is “amazing,” underscoring management’s view that new AI-driven hardware is critical to reviving growth after tepid demand for the Vision Pro and slowing iPhone sales.