Apple to enter smart home market with new AI-powered home command center, rumor says

Apple is rumored to be bringing out a new AI-powered home command center as it aims to catch up to rivals in the smart home market.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports the product will be a wall-mounted display that can control appliances, handle videoconferencing, and use AI to navigate apps.

The product is said to have been codenamed J490, with the renowned tech journalist writing that his sources include people with knowledge of the effort who have asked not to be identified because the work is confidential.

The device could look similar to an iPad, but be more square in shape and measure around 6 inches for the screen. The insider says there’s a camera at the top front, along with a rechargeable built-in battery and internal speakers.

The company is said to be gearing up to announce its arrival into the smart home market as soon as March, with the product being created in both silver and black color options.

The product is described in the report as having a touch interface that “looks like a blend of the Apple Watch operating system and the iPhone’s recently launched StandBy mode.”

Like with all of the iPhone makers products so far, the device could be loaded up with Apple apps including ones for web browsing, listening to news updates, and playing music. But is also set to be marketed as a way to control home appliances while being able to chat with Siri and hold intercom sessions through the Facetime software.

If the product and announcement come to fruition, this would mark a significant push by Apple into the market that its competitors are already in.

Google, which is owned by Alphabet Inc, has numerous products within the smart home market including its Nest Hub series, Nest Cam, Nest thermostats, and Nest doorbell.

Amazon has its Alexa Smart Home too, which uses voice control to manage lights, plugs, cameras, door locks, and more.

A representative for the California-based Apple declined to comment in the report by Bloomberg.

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