Apple's plans to expand deeper into the smart home market are facing renewed delays as the company struggles to complete a long-promised AI overhaul of Siri. The setbacks are pushing back a suite of interconnected devices — including a smart home display, updated HomePod speakers, and a new Apple TV 4K — until the upgraded AI platform is ready.
At the core of the delay is a new smart home hub, code-named J490. According to Bloomberg, it had originally been scheduled for release in spring 2025. Apple later shifted the launch to early 2026, but the device is now expected to debut around September, when the company hopes its next-generation Siri will finally be ready. The product itself has been finished for months, according to Bloomberg, but its functionality relies heavily on the revamped voice assistant, which forms the backbone of Apple's evolving AI strategy.
The device is designed to act as a central command hub for the connected home. The Verge reports that it features a 7-inch display housed in a silver aluminum casing and powered through a USB-C port. Running a customized version of tvOS, the interface reportedly resembles the Apple Watch's circular app layout and emphasizes voice-driven interactions through Siri. Apple is also developing facial-recognition capabilities that would allow the device to identify users as they approach, automatically surfacing personalized information such as calendar events, reminders, music preferences, and news updates.
The Siri delays are also affecting other products already rumored to be nearing completion. Apple has updated versions of its HomePod speaker and a new Apple TV 4K set-top box ready for launch, but both are believed to depend on new AI features tied to the upgraded Siri — meaning neither may arrive until the software platform is finalized.
The delays underscore the growing pressure on Apple to close the gap with rivals, accelerating their own AI ecosystems. Siri sits at the center of the company's strategy, with multiple upcoming devices expected to rely on its ability to function more like a modern AI assistant — one capable of drawing on users' personal data to deliver contextual, personalized responses.
Article edited by Jerry Chen
