Apple’s smart home hub will not be hitting the market as soon as expected, as development issues with Siri have caused a delay.
The device, which was initially slated for release in early 2025, is now on hold as Apple works to improve its voice assistant.
The company confirmed the setback, stating that the new Siri features, which were intended to power the smart home hub, require more time to perfect. “It’s going to take us longer than we thought to deliver on these features, and we anticipate rolling them out in the coming year,” Apple spokesperson Jacqueline Roy said.
Apple had unveiled plans to revamp Siri, integrating it with Apple Intelligence, its suite of AI-powered features. The goal was to make Siri more personalised, intuitive, and deeply integrated with user data and apps.
However, multiple reports state that Apple’s AI team has encountered serious technical and organisational issues.
According to Bloomberg, the team working on Siri has been facing engineering challenges, as well as internal leadership problems, which have slowed the rollout of planned upgrades.
Some Apple executives are reportedly dissatisfied with the progress, leading to reports that the company may need to overhaul its approach entirely.
This delay does not only affect Siri but has disrupted Apple’s general smart home strategy. The postponed hub was designed to function as a control centre for Apple’s HomeKit ecosystem, featuring a six-inch touchscreen, video calling support, and advanced voice-command capabilities. With Siri’s new features not ready, Apple has been forced to put the project on hold.
Internal Testing Underway, but No Confirmed Release Date
Even with the delay, Apple is not abandoning the project. The company has reportedly begun an internal testing programme, allowing select employees to use the smart home hub at home to gather feedback. This shows that while the public release may be far off, Apple is still actively refining the product.
Analysts believe Apple’s approach is a strategic move to avoid launching an underwhelming product. Unlike competitors such as Google and Amazon, which have quickly advanced their AI-driven voice assistants, Apple has prioritised privacy and user security over speed.
While this approach aligns with the company’s philosophy, it has placed Apple behind in the race for AI dominance.
The Smart Home Hub: What to Expect
Internally codenamed “J490,” the smart home hub is expected to feature:
- A six-inch touchscreen for interactive controls and video calls.
- Seamless integration with HomeKit to manage smart home devices.
- Voice control powered by Siri, allowing users to operate devices hands-free.
- Temperature and proximity sensors, enhancing automation and user experience.
With the delay, Apple now aims for a second or third-quarter 2025 launch, aligning with the expected rollout of more advanced Siri functionality.
Apple is working to address its AI development challenges and deliver a product that can compete in the sophisticated smart home market.
