Although Apple is best known for its iPhones and MacBooks, the Cupertino-based tech giant has been trying to diversify its revenue streams for years. The Vision Pro was one such attempt, but so far there has been limited success on that front. According to a new report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is now looking at growth opportunities in three areas: artificial intelligence, robotics and the smart home.
While it will take some time for artificial intelligence and robotics to bear fruit, the Tim Cook-led company is now reportedly turning its attention to the smart home segment in 2025, and its first offering next year could be an AI-powered smart home hub.
Apple's plans for smart home hub:
According to Gurman, the smart home hub could have a 6-inch screen and a new operating system designed to control home appliances, run FaceTime and play video. Apple is also said to be developing a new home security camera that will work with the smart hub. Apple is reportedly deep into development of its home camera and it could debut sometime after the smart home hub.
Apple is also said to be working on a new smart doorbell with support for facial recognition. The doorbell is said to connect wirelessly to a deadbolt and automatically unlock the door for the home's occupants by simply scanning their faces, similar to how Face ID works on iPhones.
The doorbell will also likely support many of the third-party locks already on the market that support Apple's HomeKit protocol. Apple could also partner with a specific lock manufacturer to offer a complete system from day one.
Work on Apple's upcoming smart doorbell is reportedly in its early stages and could not be available until late 2025 at the earliest. The upcoming smart doorbell is expected to provide stiff competition to the likes of Amazon Ring and Google Nest.