The iPad's robotic arm, a major project at Apple

Tim Cook has apparently given the green light to the development of a possibleiPad controlled by a robotic arm. This frame would help position the touchscreen tablet vertically, according to the user's movements. However, we don't know much more at the moment, but the information comes from a relatively reliable source. This is Mark Gurman, regular in our columns and who also predicts the arrival of the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max for September 10.

This new device designed by Apple has been in the works since 2022, but may not be released before 2026 or 2027, again according to the same informant. This is probably due to internal design issues. It would be particularly difficult to code software adapting to the specificities of this new format, apparently dedicated to the show. Users could thus use the product to control their connected home, which is also reminiscent of the supposedHomePod with a screenor eventhe twenty-inch iPadmentioned in the past.

The features expected with the iPad with a robotic arm

This new iPad, which also seems to stick to the value proposition of a large screen, would be ordered in particular byApple Intelligence. As a reminder, this is a complete suite of features powered by artificial intelligence. We can compare it to Gemini Nano on Android smartphones, or even to Galaxy AI from Samsung. On the menu, we find the possibility of generating images, correcting text or even automatically selecting the most important emails from your inbox. Soon, it is even rumored that a paid version will be offered, only this one is not yet official. You would still have to pay around twenty euros per month to take advantage of it, with ChatGPT Plus as an alternative, for example.

Coming back to our iPad with a robotic arm, you should also know that the device could be equipped withSiri. The voice assistant is today the ally of many iPhone or Apple Watch users, but its responses still struggle to convince compared to those offered by many competitors. Note, however, that the integration of Apple Intelligence finally allows it to compete more, even if we will have to wait until the final version of iOS 18 to be clear with more feedback from users.

Moreover, know that this supposed iPad could also give pride of place to videoconferencing. It is then very easy to imagine how FaceTime would be automatically installed on the device. The proprietary platform is already available natively on Macs and other iPads currently available in stores.

Apple's thinking heads at the helm

In all likelihood, although many Apple engineers doubt the reliability of this future iPad, some very well-placed executives at the Apple firm would definitely support the project. This is particularly the case of John Ternus, in charge of hardware engineering at Cupertino. Kevin Lynch would be responsible for directing operations, having already been seen previously at the helm of the Apple Car, which has since been abandoned. It was also Kevin Lynch who allowed Apple to develop numerous health features.

The price of the iPad with the robotic arm could be around a thousand dollars, according to Mark Gurman. Of course, however, this price will have to be converted into euros (over a thousand) to be able to buy it from us – provided that marketing on the Old Continent is involved. In general, there, prices are much higher than in the United States, in particular because of import taxes but also Apple's pure and simple desire to make European customers pay more.