Apple's Tim Cook has hinted that the company is edging closer to an autonomous car, but also that Apple's work in the area extends beyond just the fabled Apple car. Cook appears to have clued in the world to more autonomous technology developments at Apple. The company is said to have been working on the car project for years now, but Cook's comments reinforce recent stories that Apple isn't just focused on a car.
Rumors about Apple's supposed development of an electric car began circulating in 2015. At the time, electric car technology was still in its infancy, let alone autonomous car technology. Even Tesla wasn't close to the heights it has reached today. Since then, reports of the Apple car have ebbed and flowed throughout the years. The rumors peaked recently when it was reported that Apple was in talks with Hyundai and Kia, but the talks are said to be no longer ongoing.
In an interview with The New York Times, Tim Cook fielded some questions regarding the autonomous car. Though the interview focused more on the company's current political activities in the United States, Cook took time to acknowledge the company's technological developments. As always, the Apple boss avoided giving definitive answers, but he did say: "an autonomous car is a robot. And so there’s lots of things you can do with autonomy."
Are We Getting More Than A Smart Car?
Though coyly hidden under more ambiguous language, Cook's comments hint at the company's potential plans. In a further comment, he mentioned that Apple prefers to "integrate hardware, software, and services" into a single product. Whatever Apple is planning is more than just a car. More realistically, Apple is likely readying an operating system and service type designed specifically for one or more types of vehicle. It's too early to tell what that will look like for sure, but there are some possibilities.
Besides a production car for consumer ownership, different applications for an autonomous vehicle from Apple could include a self-driving taxi or a delivery service. Cook's reference to there being lots of possibilities with autonomy coupled with Apple's ability for innovation even raises the prospect of a new type of vehicle, such as an autonomous last-mile personal transporter of some sort. For that matter, it suggests possibilities beyond vehicles too. Apple's autonomy R&D could have applications for automating other parts of our lives, such as in the home. That would align with the company's work on smart home products.
Whatever the products that arise out of this, they're sure to be deeply integrated with Apple's existing and growing ecosystem. A subscription robotaxi service, for example, offered like the subscription Fitness+ service, could extend Apple's offer and attract more users to its ecosystem as a whole. A car that integrates with Apple's wider ecosystem, meanwhile, could allow users to seamlessly access their smart home devices before they get home.
Source: New York Times