Apple to unveil new smart home products, showcasing updated Siri AI

Business Recorder reported that Apple is expected to unveil new smart home products on Tuesday. The range reportedly includes an iPad-style device that can hang on a wall or sit on a table, showcasing the upgraded Siri assistant. Analysts said the range could also bring upgrades to the HomePod speaker and Apple TV.

Apple has spent roughly a decade in the smart home market without gaining much traction, and the new devices aim to handle smart locks, thermostats and doorbells. It faces rivals including Amazon, which has put heavy money into its Echo and Ring lines and released premium tablets last week, as well as AI start-ups such as OpenAI.

Investors are paying closer attention to Apple's hardware sales as a route to growth, since its services revenue is under regulatory strain. Analysts pointed to two main obstacles: device compatibility with many third-party gadgets, and Siri's restricted capacity to produce helpful responses. Bob O'Donnell, chief analyst at TECHnalysis Research, said AI advances could help, but Apple must simplify setup and cooperate across the wider smart home ecosystem instead of staying inside its own walled garden.