Apple unveils HomeView, betting home AI needs voice plus screen
On October 13 Apple held a home-focused event, unveiling the touch-and-voice smart display HomeView alongside HomePod mini 2, Apple TV 4K and co-branded home products with LG and Schneider. HomeView pairs a 7-inch rounded-square screen on an adjustable stainless-steel hinge with an A18 chip and 8GB of memory, supporting CenterStage, four beam-forming microphones, data isolation for up to six Apple IDs and Siri AI interaction. The piece argues Apple's shift away from its long-standing split of voice (HomePod) and visuals (Apple TV, mobile devices) converges with China's Xiaodu, which announced a "home agent hub" strategy at WAIC 2026 and upgraded its Chaoneng Xiaodu assistant with agent capabilities in September; Xiaodu says its devices are in more than 56 million households.
The home is again becoming a place where tech companies look for the next AI foothold, with "voice plus screen" emerging as the default interaction form.