In Other News · United States · Technology

Source: Axios

Apple's big new hardware bet for the AI era is here, and it's a...smart display?Why it matters: Cue the time machine and let's head back to 2014, when Amazon's Alexa shocked the tech world and led us to imagine a Jetsons-style home would be ours in the near future.It wasn't, but Apple believes it could come soon. The iPhone maker is betting that modern AI can finally make good on that vision, unveiling a slew of new smart home devices Tuesday.Between the lines: While the smart home has largely failed to live up to its promise, modern AI could help address its biggest shortcoming: Getting devices to just work without requiring users to become amateur IT experts.Apple's new products emphasize easy setup and integration with its existing ecosystem, while AI could help diagnose problems and coordinate devices."The capabilities that AI would bring in helping make sure that these devices can solve their own problems and work together is really interesting to me," Paul Gagnon, a vice president at market research firm Circana, told Axios.Driving the news: Apple's announcements Tuesday included a new smart display, a revamped speaker, an updated streaming device and a collection of connected home accessories developed with...