Apple's new home smart screen and AI strategy

Apple is set to launch a new home smart screen device by next month, according to reports. The device, codenamed J490, will serve as a central hub for home automation, video calls, and media playback, integrating with Apple services and running a new operating system centered on Siri AI. The screen will support facial recognition without a standard Face ID sensor, hinting at future facial recognition capabilities for the iPhone Duo. The device will be available in two form factors and will feature a small screen similar to Amazon's Echo Show. Apple's CEO John Ternus emphasized that the iPhone remains the core of the company's ecosystem, with the new screen complementing it in the home environment. Meanwhile, the iPhone Duo-specific stylus project has been scrapped, and Apple is shifting focus to its broader AI strategy, including the release of Siri AI with iOS 27.