Many moons ago, when I was working as a reporter for Wired.com, I wrote about Roomba owners who treated their cleaning robots like pets.
Even though these early Roombas were distinctly un-cuddly, almost 50% of owners gave them cute names, talked to them, or even took them on vacation (archived link).
Scientists I interviewed said the primitive robots tapped into the same nurturing instincts we feel for animals, even when we’re fully aware they’re inanimate machines.
In the not-so-distant future, Apple reportedly will release a smart home hub that might turbocharge these instincts.
Apple’s first smart home hub is due to be unveiled in just a week — but I’m already excited about the follow-up.
One of the most intriguing rumors about the second-gen home hub is that its screen will be mounted on an articulating robot arm that will move in response to its environment.
This raises all kinds of super-interesting possibilities. At minimum, the screen will likely follow you around the room as you make a video call or turn its “face” toward you when addressed.
Some of Amazon’s Echo Show devices already do this, and even their simple swiveling movement makes them strangely lifelike.
Apple’s future home hub will likely take this to the next level.
Powered by a conversational AI, the second-gen hub will probably use physical gestures to express internal states like attention, intention and emotion. It’ll nod enthusiastically when it agrees with something, or solemnly shake its “head” no when it disagrees.
Apple already added these kinds of endearing anthropomorphic touches to past devices. Remember the MacBook Pro’s gently pulsing light when the machine was sleeping, or the genius of a shaking password box when you typed in the wrong characters?
Apple’s machine learning researchers published a framework describing a range of robotic interactions in 2025. And if any company is good at delivering these kinds of experiences, it’s Apple.
Meanwhile, here’s absolutely everything that’s known about the first-gen home hub coming next week.
Also in today’s newsletter:
The smart home hub won’t be the only thing Apple unveils in October. Rumors suggest there’s much more to come, including the first touchscreen MacBook.
Also launching soon is the next-gen Apple TV, which looks almost certain to get Siri AI, according to code in the latest tvOS beta.
Every publisher under the sun’s got a guide to their best Amazon Prime Big Deal Days finds, but only ours is laser-focused on iPhone, iPad and Mac accessories.
🔥 DEAL OF THE DAY: One of the Prime deals that caught my eye is this more affordable alternative to Apple’s Dynamic Power Adapter. This $35 charger delivers adjustable power to fast-charging, adjustable-voltage devices like iPhone 17 and iPhone 18 Pro. #affiliate.
Here’s how to use the amazingly good translation app hidden in your Apple Watch.
And here’s a recommendation for an Apple Arcade game that’s great for iPhone: Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris.
Today’s the day in Apple history when possibly the silliest thing ever said about the company was uttered.
— Leander Kahney, EIC.
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A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team
Apple’s home hub is coming soon: Cult of Mac podcast #35
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One more thing ...
What drove me? I think most creative people want to express appreciation for being able to take advantage of the work that’s been done by others before us. I didn’t invent the language or mathematics I use. I make little of my own food, none of my own clothes. Everything I do depends on other members of our species and the shoulders that we stand on. And a lot of us want to contribute something back to our species and to add something to the flow.
It’s about trying to express something in the only way that most of us know how — because we can’t write Bob Dylan songs or Tom Stoppard plays. We try to use the talents we do have to express our deep feelings, to show our appreciation of all the contributions that came before us, and to add something to that flow. That’s what has driven me.
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