According to reports, Apple Inc. plans to expand its production operations in Vietnam to manufacture the next generation of smart home devices, including a desktop robot. The consumer-facing desktop robot product is expected to launch around 2027. The device will feature a 9-inch display mounted on a motorized arm capable of autonomous movement and rotation. It is designed to follow users or adjust its angle during interactions, with the intended use in home and kitchen settings to aid in household chores or work tasks. This desktop robot will enhance interactivity through motors, sensors, upgraded Siri AI, and a screen similar to an iPad. Apple's entry into the consumer-level desktop robot market could have a significant impact on Tesla Inc. Firstly, Apple is collaborating with BYD, a competitor of Tesla, for the final assembly, testing, and packaging of the anticipated new smart home products. Notably, this product, featuring physical mobility, will be Apple's first since its founding in 1976, which could lead the company to develop more products capable of challenging humanoid robots and other physical AI offerings, thus attracting investor interest. Morgan Stanley highlights that Apple’s decision marks another "important moment" in the transition of AI into physical realms. Analyst Adam Jonas stated, "As AI shifts from the digital world (bits and bytes) to the physical world (atoms and photons), investors can expect to see unprecedented examples of tech companies entering industrial sectors and collaborations between industrial and tech companies. In our view, the market for physical AI could potentially exceed several times over the scale of the global GDP (approximately $115 trillion)." As a resource-rich company valued at $3.6 trillion, Apple is seen as having a decisive impact on the robotics field. Elon Musk has previously asserted that Tesla will maintain a leading position in this area. Musk recognized the potential of physical AI and robotics over a decade ago while developing autonomous vehicles, with the Optimus project ongoing for roughly five years. Jonas points out that this secret is now public knowledge. He writes, "All seven major tech giants in the U.S. have regarded robotics as a critical area for scientific and commercial development, bolstered by general AI technology and accelerated by national security priorities and geopolitical competition. Companies like Apple entering the robotics field signifies another major player in need of world-class AI and manufacturing talent, intensifying the competition for the most precious resource of artificial life — the human brain."