HomeView, Apple’s smart home hub just released on October 13, looks like it will be open to third-party AI chatbots, including ChatGPT and Claude.
The clue is in the code. At the beginning of the month, a whistleblower found a ConversationalApps tag in the system that had not yet been enabled. At the time, it was just speculation. With the iOS 27.3 beta version, a component called PebblePlay has officially received support from the Conversational Apps (conversational apps) category, which is tantamount to solidification.
Apple has always relied on "categories" to release such devices. This is what CarPlay does: navigation, audio, and messaging have their own categories, and apps that are not in the categories cannot be accessed. Now open a conversation class for HomeView. The meaning is very clear, and the chatbot can enter.
HomeView itself is a screen shared by the whole family, which can control smart homes, play music, make video calls, and watch surveillance. Code clues also suggest it could double as a HomeKit security camera in the future.
Apple's attitude towards third-party AI has relaxed rapidly this year. First, Siri was connected to ChatGPT, and now even the screen at home has given way.
What we really have to wait for is the permission boundaries when it comes online. Anyone can talk to the screen at home, including children and guests. Apple has to give an explanation for how much family data third-party robots can read.