Apple's Smart Home Display Pushed to Fall as Siri AI Overhaul Stalls Product Pipeline

Apple's New Smart Home Display Delayed Until Fall Over Siri Issues

Alex Valdes from Bellevue, Washington has been pumping content into the Internet river for quite a while, including stints at MSNBC.com, MSN, Bing, MoneyTalksNews, Tipico and more. He admits to being somewhat fascinated by the Cambridge coffee webcam back in the Roaring '90s. Your home could get smarter with Apple's Siri, but it will have to wait a few more months. Bloomberg reported the iPad-shaped AI home hub won't be ready until September, several months after the company was hoping to launch it this spring. Apple engineers first need to complete work on a new and improved Siri assistant for the home device, code-named J490, according to Bloomberg. Apple was hoping to release J490 this month, along with a slew of other new devices, including the iPhone 17e, MacBook Neo, MacBook Air M5, new Pro models, and iPad Air M4. Apple first teased the smart home display in November 2024. A representative for Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Siri is Apple's virtual assistant that uses voice recognition and AI to fulfill a variety of tasks and commands, along with intriguing uses. You might use Siri to find your iPhone -- "Hey Siri, where are you?" -- or to hear the weather forecast -- "Siri, what will the weather be today?" Siri is available on iPhones, MacBooks and iPads. It was launched in 2011 as a feature of the iPhone 4S. As CNET reported last month, Apple engineers have struggled to push the upgraded Siri assistant out the door. It isn't fast enough, gets confused by complex commands and doesn't interact well with other Apple AI models. The company is also wrestling with how much personal data to access to inform the AI, and the new Siri is not yet able to complete in-app tasks, such as finding a photo and posting it to socials, all with one command. It has been nearly two years since Apple announced that it would give Siri a major upgrade. In the meantime, competitors like Alexa Plus and Gemini for Home have entered the marketplace. The hardware for the forthcoming smart home display has already been finished. It resembles an iPad and can be either attached to a wall or rest on a half-domed-shaped base, the Bloomberg report said. The device will be equipped with facial recognition, so when residents walk up to it, they will be shown personalized data such as music preferences, news headlines, appointments, reminders, tasks and so on. The screen interface will include a bunch of circular app icons, similar to the display on an Apple Watch. The Bloomberg report said the smart home display will be the first of several home devices by Apple. Future products include a tabletop robotic limb with a 9-inch screen, a smart security camera and a Face ID-enabled smart doorbell.

Apple smart home display rumors now point to a fall launch with iOS 27

The rumored "HomePod with a screen" we've heard so much about was reportedly lined up for launch in 2025, and then this spring, and now, according to the latest updates, it's on the shelf until this fall. Leaker Kosutami posted as much on X last week, and today, Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman followed up with similar information, saying its robot arm-equipped cousin is now planned for launch in 2027. According to Gurman, the J490 smart home display / HomePad is waiting for Apple to finish work on its chatbot-style AI update for Siri. That was supposed to be ready by now, but it is now predicted to arrive later this year, along with the iPhone 18 Pro plus 2027 updates for iOS, macOS, and all the rest. He describes a silver aluminum-cased device with a 7-inch screen and USB-C power port running a version of tvOS 27, while new versions of the HomePod speaker and Apple TV 4K box are also waiting in the wings for that Siri update, and a smart home sensor is in the works, too.

Apple Postpones Smart Home Display Launch as It Waits for New AI and Siri

Apple Inc.'s artificial intelligence struggles are rippling through its product plans, forcing the company to delay a long-in-the-works smart home display until later this year, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The product, code-named J490, was first scheduled for spring 2025 but was postponed to let the company finish work on a new Siri digital assistant -- an integral piece of the device's interface. Apple had then planned to release the display this month, when it hoped the new Siri would be ready, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the deliberations are private. With Siri delayed again, Apple is now postponing the smart home device once more. The predicament underscores the need for Apple to catch up in artificial intelligence. Siri lies at the heart of its AI strategy -- with many future products depending on the technology. But Apple has pushed back long-promised features, including some that were unveiled to consumers nearly two years ago. That's created discord between the tech giant's software and hardware plans. The smart display itself has been finished for several months. But the company is now looking to release it around September, when Apple anticipates that the new Siri will finally be complete. A spokesperson for Cupertino, California-based Apple declined to comment. The display, which looks like a square iPad that can be either affixed to a half-domed-shaped speaker base or a wall attachment, is designed to be a central AI hub for the home. The user interface includes a list of circular app icons in a similar arrangement to an Apple Watch's home screen. The highlight is a facial recognition-based system that can recognize people when they walk up to the device. With that information, the product can then display personalized data, such as the user's calendar appointments, reminders, notes, music and news preferences. Apple is working on a slew of other new AI products, including a pendant, camera-equipped AirPods and smart glasses. Those devices are scheduled for after Siri's anticipated rollout. That means they're unlikely to be affected unless there are further development snags. Apple is aiming to have the all of its new Siri features ready by the time it launches the iPhone 18 Pro in September. The updated Siri will be able to tap users' personal data to better fulfill queries. Apple is also revamping the interface -- and underlying AI models -- to make Siri more of a modern chatbot. The user data features are particularly key to the new home device since it's meant to provide a personalized experience. Apple is currently planning for the smart home display to launch with a variation of tvOS 27, a version of its TV set-top box operating system planned for release in September. Apple's new home operating system is based on the underlying technology found on the Apple TV. Until the recent delays due to Siri, Apple had been planning for the initial home devices to run a variation of tvOS 26, the current Apple TV software. John Ternus, senior vice president of hardware engineering, has been playing a central role in the smart home efforts and sees it as central to the company's future growth. Apple had aimed for all the new Siri features to be ready for its 26.4 software update this year, but is now testing them for the 26.5 and 27 releases, Bloomberg News has reported. The smart home display has a 7-inch screen, a single USB-C port for power, and the classic Apple silver aluminum casing. It will be the first of multiple Apple home devices. A version with a 9-inch screen attached to a robotic limb is planned for next year. There's a small home security sensor in the works as well. Apple has also been working on a new HomePod without a display and an updated Apple TV set-top box, both tied to new artificial intelligence features. The Apple TV hardware hasn't been updated since 2022, though its software got the new Liquid Glass interface last year. The company's smart home rollout is arriving several years after similar products from Amazon.com Inc., Alphabet Inc.'s Google and others. Still, Apple should be able to capitalize on its existing product ecosystem. The company said in January that its user base has topped 2.5 billion. In recent days, Apple has rolled out a flurry of other new products, including the iPhone 17e, a low-cost MacBook Neo, an iPad Air, external monitors, and refreshes to the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. But it didn't discuss any enhancements to its Siri, AI or smart home efforts -- something it had previously been aiming to do by this month.

Apple reportedly delays its planned smart display launch to fall

Mark Gurman at Bloomberg is back with the latest rumors about what's afoot with Apple's future plans, and how its ongoing difficulties with artificial intelligence seem to be creating further delays for its next wave of product launches. His sources say that Apple is expected to postpone the debut of its smart home display until later in 2026, likely September when it often introduces new gadgets. Although the hardware has reportedly been finished for months, this delay is being credited to the company's AI-centric overhaul of Siri still not being complete. The device, internally known as J490, has been one of Apple's many poorly-kept secrets. Rumors about a HomePod smart speaker coupled with a screen first emerged back in 2022 and have resurfaced from time to time in the interim, often with promises that the device's arrival was imminent. The latest claims anticipated that the official announcement was coming this spring, possibly as soon as this month. However, appears to Apple once again be hamstrung by an AI strategy that has left it scrambling to catch up to other industry leaders. Apple has been working to incorporate more AI capabilities into Siri for more than a year as part of its Apple Intelligence package. Gurman reports that the new timeline from Apple aims to have the revamp completed for the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro, which is also expected for September. Apple may unveil this long-awaited Siri-as-chatbot during its WWDC keynote in the summer before it shows up in any devices.

Apple's Delay-Plagued Siri Project Has Also Interfered with Physical Product Releases, Report Says

Siri is more than a disembodied voice. It was reportedly meant to anchor a whole new set of Apple doohickeys. The ever-elusive “Siri, But Make It Actually Good†is not just a quirky side project at Apple that’s not going well, according to the claims in some anonymously sourced new reporting. From the sound of it, new Siri is more like a white whale dragging a huge group of Apple’s product engineers to the depths along with their ship, loaded with what were supposed to be exciting new Apple gadgets. Last year, anonymous sources leaked to Bloomberg’s Apple scoop guy Mark Gurman about three novel products in Apple’s pipeline that were meant to be released in 2025, but delayedâ€"at the timeâ€"until spring of this year. Two of those products were reportedly codenamed J490 and J491. The J490 reportedly would have been Apple’s answer to the Amazon Echo Show 8â€"or a HomePod mini with a screen featuring an Apple Watch-like interface. Gurman says the J491 was (or is?) a wall-mounted J490. Gurman’s report also notes a third and considerably more whimsical product that seems to fit into this family: essentially another J490, but on a little robot that moves around your tabletop. The personality, if you will, that you would be interacting with when you use any of these theoretical products would be Siri. Specifically, “The new Siri, currently planned for this coming March,†Gurman wrote at the time, which would be “useful for a device aimed at controlling appliances, music and communications within a home.†That is, if the cool version of Siri Apple started hyping in 2023, and started overtly advertising in 2024 had ever become reality. And according to a fresh new Gurman report, these products are in suspended animation because of Apple’s slow-motion Siri disaster. The ambition to release a great smart home product represents Apple trying to “create its next big moneymaker,†in Gurman’s telling, but Apple’s struggle to cook up an AI model of its own, followed by its embarrassing decision to just rent one from Google, followed by hype for the new model, followed by more delays, mean no new moneymaker, other than all the company’s other new moneymakers, I should say. Whatever the J490, its sibling, and its robot cousin are actually going to be called, they were supposed to be launched approximately right now, Gurman’s sources say, alongside the new “personalized†version of Siri attached to iOS 26.4. That obviously isn’t happening, so now those sources are saying we’ll all have to wait until September. But to be safe, maybe don’t lock in any plans that involve having a new-Siri-powered smart home assistant this fall.

Apple's Nest Hub rival may be delayed again as Siri overhaul drags on

The hardware itself has reportedly been finished for several months, but Apple doesn't want to ship the device without the upgraded Siri experience. Siri sits at the center of Apple's broader AI strategy, and the company has already pushed back several promised features tied to the assistant. The display is described as a square, iPad-like device with a roughly 7-inch screen that can either be mounted on a wall or attached to a half-dome speaker base. It's designed to act as a central hub for controlling smart home devices and accessing information around the house, and reportedly includes facial recognition that can identify who approaches and surface personalized details, such as calendar appointments and music preferences.

Apple HomePad faces another delay over Siri struggles -- but this upgrade could be worth the wait

Rumors about a robust Apple smart home hub, possibly dubbed the HomePad, have been rolling around the Apple-sphere for a couple of years. Unfortunately, this device has been repeatedly delayed thanks to Apple's ongoing struggles with AI and the long-awaited Siri 2.0 revamp. Now though, a pair of new leaks indicate that the HomePad has been delayed yet again, but they also revealed several potential new features. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple delayed the smart home hub to "later this year" because of Apple's struggles with AI. Allegedly, Apple wanted to release the hub this month alongside the revamped Siri 2.0 that was supposed to be released with iOS 26.4. Testing delays pushed that launch back again though. According to Gurman, the device itself has been ready for "several months," but the AI software issues have scuttled release plans. He now claims that Apple wants to launch the device in September, possibly alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models and iPhone Fold. That appears to agree with a leak from X user Kosutami, who suggested that the HomePad would launch this Fall. What can the HomePad do? We know a bit about the device and what Apple wants it to do with AI. Kosutami posted recently that the HomePad might feature a MagSafe wall mount which would allow you to move it between your wall and a base. The device is supposed to have a 7-inch display and look like an iPad attached to a speaker base. Gurman claims that Apple has several Home devices in the works, including a display-less version, new Apple TV hardware, and a version with a 9-inch display connected to a robotic arm. AI-powered Siri integration is supposed to be a major part of how the device works. It would tap your personal information to fulfill requests from controlling other smart home devices to acting as an Alexa-esque chatbot. Apple reportedly wants to develop an entire smart home ecosystem. But again, the issue is that it's all based around tvOS software that requires Siri to work better. Apple has yet to crack AI shown in its desperate partnerships with OpenAI and later this year, integrating Google's Gemini model into Siri. If Apple can finally figure it out, we should see the HomePad later this year. If not, we'll report on any other delays as they happen, so stay tuned to Tom's Guide for all the latest Apple news. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.

Apple's Smart Home Hub Won't Launch Until September as Siri Remains Unfinished

Apple is postponing the launch of its planned smart home hub until September 2026, reports Bloomberg. Apple has pushed back the debut of the home hub multiple times due to ongoing issues with the revamped version of Siri. The hub has a heavy AI focus and it is tied to the more intelligent Siri that Apple has in the works. Prior to realizing the Apple Intelligence version of Siri would not be ready until 2026, Apple planned to launch the home hub in spring 2025. After it became clear Siri would need to be delayed, Apple then aimed for a spring 2026 launch for the home hub because it planned to release Siri in iOS 26.4. Siri is not present in the iOS 26.4 beta because the new version is still not ready, so Apple is now going to hold the home hub until September. Apple is reportedly experiencing issues with Siri accuracy and it hasn't managed to get all of the promised Siri features working reliably. A September launch timeline suggests we are not going to see new Siri capabilities until iOS 27, as September is when iOS 27 will come out. Apple has promised that the new version of Siri will launch in 2026, and as long as it debuts before December, Apple won't miss the timeline that it gave to the public. The smart home hub has apparently been finished and ready to launch for several months, but it can't be released without the Siri update. The device is similar in design to an iPad, but with a 7-inch square display. It can be attached to a wall or used with a speaker base, and there is a camera for facial recognition. The hub can tell when people are in the room and when someone walks up to it, and it will offer content specific to each person in the home. Apple designed it to be an AI hub for controlling smart home products, making calls, viewing apps like Calendar and Reminders, and much more. It is meant to be similar to the Amazon Echo Show, which is an Alexa-enabled speaker with a display. Apple's home hub does not include its own App Store, but it does run Apple apps. It will feature round app icons that are arranged similarly to apps on the Apple Watch, and it will run a version of tvOS 27. Apple first showed off the new version of Siri in June 2024, and planned to launch the features in iOS 18.4. Siri capabilities include personalization, onscreen awareness, and the ability for Siri to do more in and between apps, as well as image generation using Image Playground and a web search feature that summarizes information from web results. The Apple Intelligence Siri updates were meant to be followed by an iOS 27 update that turns Siri into a ChatGPT-style chatbot, but now it seems like all of the new features could come at once in iOS 27. Apple is planning to revamp Siri to make it look and feel more like a chatbot.

Siri bug reportedly delays Apple's smart home lineup

Siri's development over the years has been less than stellar, especially compared to competing voice assistants from Google and Amazon, but if the rumors are true, work on the new Siri update is so much of a hassle that Apple is delaying the release of its next-generation Apple Home products. Last year, notorious Apple scooper Mark Gurman told Bloomberg that the Cupertino-based tech giant had been working on a slew of new home products, including long-overdue updates to their HomePod and HomePod Mini, indoor security cameras, and even a tabletop robot with a motorized arm, all to be controlled by the sound of your voice. This aggressive foray into the smart home market was originally slated to launch last year, but was delayed until spring of 2026. Another, more recent report from Gurman has highlighted the growing disconnect between Apple's hardware and software divisions as the main cause of another delay. At the center of this recent report is a smart home display/hub that Apple hoped to compete with Amazon's Echo Show. Reportedly, the device was to lean heavily on artificial intelligence and facial recognition technology to deliver tailored information to every new person who approached it: homework assignments for the kids, for example, and upcoming meetings for the parents. But with Siri's development behind expectations, these new smart home devices are being further delayed, most likely until September, when the next generation iPhone lineup is set to launch alongside a much-improved Siri assistant. Apple fans eager to give their homes a smart upgrade will have to wait a few more months, but with so many products releasing simultaneously this fall, even more pressure will be placed on Apple's command of artificial intelligence across its product ecosystem, making September a momentous month for the company.

Apple's smart home display is apparently delayed, and Siri's late AI rebirth is to blame

Inititally slate for an early 2026 launch, the device has now been pushed by a few months. Apple's smart home device ambitions keep running into delays, and it seems the next-gen AI rebirth of Siri is to blame. According to Bloomberg, plans for a smart home display have now been pushed to September, putting it into the same launch slate as the Fall season debut for new iPhones. Some reports are calling it HomePad, while others refer to it as the HomePod with screen or home hub. What's the big shift? "The product, code-named J490, was first scheduled for spring 2025 but was postponed to let the company finish work on a new Siri digital assistant -- an integral piece of the device's interface," says the report. The device, which is currently in development under the codename J490, was apparently eyeing a March debut, but it seems those plans have now been pushed back by a few months. Interestingly, the hardware development of the device has reportedly been finished for months, and it is only awaiting the big software upgrade that will allow it to run an upgraded Siri. To recall, Apple recently inked a deal with Google to use the Gemini foundations and use them to upgrade the conversational skills of Siri, and how it handles user commands. Recommended Videos Apple is pretty far behind in the race for AI home assistants. Amazon has already switched millions of Echo devices to the new Alexa+ assistant, while Google has also upgraded its ecosystem to Gemini. Siri, on the other hand, has continued to face delays, and it is taking a toll on Apple's launch schedule for multiple smart home devices. What's this peculiar device? Apple's smart home device will reportedly be a mish-mash of an iPad and a HomePod speaker, albeit in a much condensed form factor. "The display, which looks like a square iPad that can be either affixed to a half-domed-shaped speaker base or a wall attachment, is designed to be a central AI hub for the home," adds Bloomberg. Separately, it has been reported that the device will use a magnetic wall mount system, somewhat similar to MagSafe on iPhones. The user interface, on the other hand, will look similar to the one on an Apple Watch. The most notable aspect of the device is a facial recognition system that will identify faces as well as voices, accordingly changing the content appearing on the screen as users come closer to the display.

Apple delays smart home display launch to September 2026

Apple delays its smart home display launch to fall 2026 due to Siri AI overhaul. The postponement underscores Apple's ongoing challenges in integrating advanced artificial intelligence into its product ecosystem. The delay pushes back a key hardware release originally anticipated for spring 2024. Mark Gurman at Bloomberg reported that the device, internally known as J490, will now debut in September 2026. Apple has reportedly finished the hardware for months. The delay is attributed to the company's AI-centric overhaul of Siri not being complete. Rumors about a HomePod smart speaker with a screen first emerged in 2022. Recent expectations pointed to a spring 2024 announcement. Apple has been working to incorporate more AI capabilities into Siri for over a year as part of its Apple Intelligence package. The new timeline aims to have the Siri revamp completed for the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro, also expected in September 2026. Gurman reported that Apple may unveil the Siri-as-chatbot during its WWDC keynote in summer 2026. This would occur before the feature appears in any devices. Apple frequently introduces new gadgets in September. The company's AI strategy has left it scrambling to catch up to other industry leaders. Bloomberg is the publication that originally reported these details.

Apple Has to Postpone Its Smart Home Display Because Siri Still Isn't Ready

The device was originally planned for spring 2025 but keeps getting pushed back due to AI issues. Apple's long-awaited smart home display is stuck in AI development hell, according to Bloomberg. The product, code-named J490, was originally scheduled for spring 2025 but has been delayed multiple times as Apple struggles to finish its new Siri digital assistant. The holdup highlights Apple's larger AI struggles. While competitors like Google and Amazon have sold smart home devices for years, Apple keeps pushing back long-promised features that were unveiled nearly two years ago. The company is now targeting September for both the smart home display and revamped Siri. The 7-inch display itself has been finished for months. It's designed as a central AI hub with facial recognition that displays personalized calendars, preferences, and apps much like an iPhone. The delay has allegedly created some tension between Apple's hardware and software teams as Siri isn't keeping up with the product timeline.

Apple Smart Home Display Could Launch Later This Year as Siri Faces Delay

Apple is said to have pushed back the launch of its long-rumoured smart home display, as the development of planned artificial intelligence (AI) features continues to lag behind. According to a seasoned journalist, the Cupertino-based tech giant has postponed the purported device because the upgraded version of Siri that powers many of its AI capabilities is not yet ready. The delay highlights Apple's broader challenges in finalising its next generation of AI-powered features that are expected to power several upcoming devices. Apple's Smart Home Display Delayed The smart home device was originally expected to launch in spring 2025, but Apple reportedly pushed the timeline back to allow additional time to complete its upgraded Siri digital assistant. The company later aimed to release the device this month once the new Siri experience was ready. In the latest edition of the Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman notes that further delays in developing the AI features have forced Apple to postpone the product again. The company is now said to be targeting a launch around September, when it expects the updated Siri features to be completed. It has been described as being similar to a square iPad attached to a half-dome speaker base, with the option to wall-mount it. The device is said to have a 7-inch display, a single USB Type-C port for charging, and an aluminium body. Per Gurman, the smart home display's user interface will feature circular app icons, resembling the home screen layout of the Apple Watch. It is also claimed to be equipped with facial recognition technology, allowing it to recognise the user and display personalised information such as calendar events, reminders, notes, music preferences, and news updates. The delay is primarily linked to Apple's ongoing efforts to improve its Siri assistant, which will be used to deliver some of its AI-based features. Apple had earlier planned to deliver these features in iOS 26.4, but it seems to have been delayed. Its focus has now reportedly shifted to releasing the new Siri features for iOS 26.5 or iOS 27. The new assistant is expected to access and process users' personal data in a better way to provide contextual and personalised data. The tech giant is also said to be working to improve Siri's user interface and AI to make it function like a modern chatbot. The company reportedly plans to deliver all these new Siri features when it launches its iPhone 18 Pro later this year. The purported device is expected to be the first in a series of smart home devices Apple is developing. According to Gurman, Apple is developing a larger version with a robotic arm and a 9-inch display, which is expected to be released next year alongside other smart home devices. More AI-powered devices, such as smart glasses, camera-enabled AirPods, and a wearable pendant device, are also reported to be in development, featuring the new Siri platform.

The Siri-powered 'HomePad' smart speaker reportedly delayed again

Apple's AI-powered smart display won't be here until later this year, a well-connected Apple reporter says Apple still isn't ready to launch its AI-infused smart display and won't be until late 2026 according to a new report. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that Apple's noted struggles to get its AI house in order - mainly through the revamped Siri assistant it has now enlisted Google to help with - has caused the latest delay with the device likened to a HomePod and iPad hybrid. According to Gurman, Apple is now looking at September 2026 for the launch of the smart home device thought to be the first of an aggressive wave of smart home products that'll eventually build to the launch of a robotic device that follows owners around their domicile. Bloomberg reports that Apple had hoped to announce the product as soon as this month, alongside the wave of products we saw arrive last week, such as the new MacBook Neo. Originally, Apple had promised its newly revamped conversational Siri would be ready for the spring of 2026. And that's clearly not the case and appears to be holding up its hardware plans. Now we're looking at WWDC this summer for the earliest for the launch of the Gemini-empowered Siri that would have to power such a device, in order for it to be a noted improvement on the current state of affairs. The update may not reach consumers until autumn this year, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro range. Considering this device has reportedly been on-deck since 2022, it's becoming quite the odyssey. Apple has always operated under the edict that it's better be best than first, but the years-long delay in getting its AI house in order have threatened its position at the top of the tech tree and left it at the mercy of the providers who're racing to lead the future beyond hardware. Personally, I'm pretty thrilled than I'm able to use my Apple gadgets without having AI shoved in my face when I certainly didn't ask for it as a feature and only see it as a way to demean art and detract from hard-earned honed talents. So, the longer Apple is behind in the AI race, the happier I'll be.

Apple's Smart Home Display Reportedly Falls Victim To Its Siri Woes

Apple had originally intended to launch its new Smart Home Display as a part of last week's product launch marathon. However, in the face of the ongoing delays related to the rollout of the revamped Siri, Apple has been forced to substantially extend the launch timeline of the new device, as per the latest tidbit from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. For the benefit of those who might not be aware yet, Apple intends to launch a revamped version of Siri this year, bringing the much-delayed in-app actions, personal context awareness, and on-screen awareness to its bespoke voice assistant, thereby, enabling a wide variety of agentic actions across apps, based on personal data and on-screen content. This revamped Siri would be powered by a 1.2-trillion-parameter custom Gemini AI model, dubbed the Foundation Models version 10. Unlike the chatbot Siri that is expected to ship next year with the iOS 27, and run on Google's own TPUs and cloud infrastructure, albeit owned by Apple, the revamped Siri would operate within Apple's Private Cloud Compute framework, where relatively simple AI tasks are performed by using on-device models and the computational resources of the device itself, while the more complex tasks are offloaded to Apple's private cloud servers using encrypted and stateless data for subsequent inference. Of course, this revamped Siri was supposed to launch with the ongoing iOS 26.4 update cadence. However, according to Gurman, Apple has been forced to delay the new Siri's rollout in light of lingering performance-related inconsistencies. This brings us to the core of today's topic. According to Gurman, Apple has delayed the new Smart Home Display, which bears an internal product code J490, as the revamped Siri is not ready yet: "The product, code-named J490, was first scheduled for spring 2025 but was postponed to let the company finish work on a new Siri digital assistant -- an integral piece of the device's interface. Apple had then planned to release the display this month, when it hoped the new Siri would be ready, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the deliberations are private. With Siri delayed again, Apple is now postponing the smart home device once more." Do note that Apple's new Smart Home Display resembles an iPad and can be mounted onto a dome-shaped speaker base or affixed to a wall attachment. It sports a 7-inch screen, a single USB-C port, and an aluminum casing. Its star feature is its facial recognition ability, with the system able to identify individuals as they walk up to the device, and displays personalized content as per the preference of each recognized individual. As for its UI, the Smart Home Display is expected to launch with a variant of the tvOS 27, and features circular app icons akin to the Apple Watch's home screen. According to Gurman, the revamped Siri would ship by September 2026, when Apple is expected to debut its iPhone 18 Pro lineup alongside the iPhone Fold. As such, we can reasonably expect the Apple Smart Home Display to launch around the fall of 2026.

Apple's Siri Troubles Put Smart Home Display On Hold | PYMNTS.com

By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions. As Bloomberg News reported Monday (May 9), the device had been scheduled to launch last year but was put on hold while Apple worked on developing an updated version of its Siri digital assistant, a crucial part of the smart home display's interface. Apple had hoped to unveil the display this month, the report added, citing sources familiar with the matter. But with Siri delayed again, the company has been forced to postpone the smart home display. The report notes that the delay highlight's Apple's need to catch up in the AI space. Siri is an important part of the company strategy, though Apple has pushed back many long-expected features, leading to tension between its software and hardware ambitions. While the smart display itself has been ready for months, the report says Apple now aims to debut it around September, when it expects that the new Siri will be ready. PYMNTS has reached out to Apple for comment but has not yet gotten a reply. Apple has been at work on the device, codenamed "J490" and at one time known as the "Home Accessory," since 2024. According to Bloomberg, the display, a tablet-style device that can be mounted on a user's wall or rest on a speaker base, is designed to function as a home's AI hub. The user interface features a collection of circular app icons similar to an Apple Watch's home screen. Among its selling points is a facial recognition system that recognizes users when they approach the device, and use that information to offer up personalized data like calendar appointments, and music and news preferences, the report said. In a column last month, PYMNTS CEO Karen Webster argued that Siri helped illustrate Apple's Apple's "uneven history with AI," as the company approached the assistant as a feature instead of a platform that could connect users with the company's services and apps. "The decision to partner with Google and use Gemini as the backbone for a dramatically upgraded Siri is regarded as a Hail Mary move designed to shore up Apple's weakest flank and preserve the relevance of the iPhone and Services ecosystem," Webster wrote.

Apple delays smart home display launch due to Siri AI update: Report

Apple has postponed the launch of its highly anticipated smart home display, codenamed J490, due to ongoing development of a new Siri digital assistant, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Originally planned for spring 2025 and later expected this month, the device is now likely to debut around September. The 7-inch display, resembling a square iPad, can sit on a half-domed speaker base or be wall-mounted. It functions as a central AI hub with circular app icons and facial recognition to deliver personalized calendars, reminders, notes, music, and news. The delay stems from Apple's effort to finish the upgraded Siri, which is being revamped into a modern chatbot leveraging personal data. Although the device has been ready for months, the postponement highlights discord between Apple's software and hardware plans, as it updated from tvOS 26 to 27 to align with Siri, with SVP John Ternus leading the effort. Apple is also developing a 9-inch robotic smart display, a pendant, camera-equipped AirPods, smart glasses, a HomePod without a display, and an updated Apple TV. These devices are scheduled for release after Siri's rollout and should remain on track unless further delays occur. Apple TV hardware hasn't been updated since 2022, though its software received the Liquid Glass interface last year. Mark Gurman expects all new Siri features to be ready by September, coinciding with the iPhone 18 Pro launch. Apple aims to use the updated Siri to provide a highly personalized smart home experience.

Apple reportedly delays smart home display launch as it waits for new AI-powered Siri

It may feature a 7-inch display, facial recognition, and a tvOS-based operating system. Apple has reportedly postponed the launch of its long-anticipated smart home display as it continues to refine its next-generation Siri assistant. According to a report by Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, the device was initially planned for a spring release but has now been pushed back to later this year because the updated Siri features are not ready. The product, internally codenamed J490, is expected to serve as Apple's first dedicated smart home hub with a built-in display. Here's what we know. According to Gurman's report, Apple had originally planned to introduce the smart display in early 2025. The schedule was later shifted to March this year when the company expected the new Siri features to be ready. However, with the AI-powered Siri rollout delaying again, Apple has reportedly decided to postpone the hardware launch as well. The new Siri upgrade is crucial for the new device, and so even though the hardware is reportedly complete, the company may have to wait till the software side is fully ready. The company now aims to introduce the device around September, roughly aligning with its next major software releases and upcoming iPhone launch cycle. Apple has not publicly confirmed the delay. So, it is all hearsay for now. The upcoming device is said to resemble a square tablet similar to an iPad, designed to function as a central smart home controller. It can reportedly be mounted on a wall or attached to a speaker-style base. Also Read: Hisense Intelli Cool Pro ACs with AI and Wi-Fi control arrive in India: Price, availability We expect to see the following hardware and interface: The facial recognition feature is expected to personalise the experience. Once a user is recognised, the device could display information such as calendar appointments, reminders, notes, music preferences, and news updates. On the software side, the smart home display is expected to run a customised operating system based on tvOS, the platform currently used on the Apple TV. The device may ship with a variation of tvOS 27, which is expected to arrive later this year. But the UI could bear some resemblance to the Apple Watch home screen. And since this device is expected to be central to Apple's broader AI smart home ecosystem, you see why the new Siri's integration is important. This Siri, with its access to user data, should be able to handle more complex queries and deliver more contextual responses. Siri could also have a better conversation-ready interface. Also, as the AI Siri is believed to be central to many other upcoming Apple devices, such as smart glasses, camera-equipped AirPods, an AI pendant, and even a bigger home display with a 9-inch screen and robotic arm, Apple must ensure its AI assistant is fully ready. Let's see how this plays out and whether Apple manages to take on competitors like Amazon and Google.