Apple has developed an unusual lamp that can show emotions and communicate with the owner, a move that signals the tech giant’s foray into the home robotics market. The lamp, known as Elegnt, was showcased on the website of Apple’s research department, with video materials and a scientific article detailing the project.
There are two versions of the Elegnt lamp. The “Expressive” version is designed to interact with users through expressive movements reminiscent of human gestures, drawing comparisons to the famous animated lamp from Pixar Studios. The second version, called “Functional,” serves as a more straightforward comparison. While it performs the same tasks as the expressive version, it does so without unnecessary movements, showcasing the impact of emotion on technology experience.
Both versions of the Elegnt lamp resemble table lamps with a mobile bracket. While Apple has not disclosed all the technical specifications, the lamp can be equipped with features such as an LED module, camera, dynamics, and a built-in projector, as shown in a video.
The lamp features gesture and voice command recognition, along with integration with Siri for voice assistant capabilities. Users can make video calls on Facetime and control connected gadgets with a single command. In the video demonstration, the emotional version of the lamp moves to the beat of music and reacts to questions by adjusting its position accordingly.
According to Bloomberg, the Elegnt lamp could hit shelves as early as 2026 or 2027, with an estimated price of around $1000.