Apple has not even put its first smart home hub on sale yet, and it may already be lining up its biggest upgrade. Code spotted in the iOS 27.3 beta suggests the $299 HomeView could one day run third-party AI chatbots such as ChatGPT and Claude, putting Apple’s newest home device in direct conversation with the AI assistants people already use on their phones.
Code investigator pdfu first flagged the clue, reported by MacRumors on November 5 and The Verge on November 8, days before HomeView reaches shops on November 13. Apple has said nothing, and the code names no apps or date, but the detail is specific enough to have set off fresh speculation.
What the beta code actually shows
HomeView has no App Store of its own. Instead, it shows apps from a connected iPhone or iPad in a CarPlay-style system, with Apple deciding which categories of third-party apps are allowed on the hub. In the latest iOS 27.3 beta, that system has gained a new category: “Conversational Apps”.
That label is the whole story. Apple uses these categories to control what can run on the device, so a new category for conversational apps points to chatbot software being prepared for HomeView. The beta also includes early groundwork for two-way audio routing, session management and handling interruptions. The investigator who found it added that the feature is “still not fully wired up”, so this is preparation, not a finished product.
It is worth being precise about what this does and does not prove. The code shows a category, not a list of apps. Reporters have named ChatGPT and Claude as the obvious candidates, but neither OpenAI nor Anthropic has announced anything for HomeView, and Apple has not confirmed a single app or a date.
A lock on your personal data
The same dig through the beta turned up a second, more finished feature: anti-spoofing protection. HomeView recognises the faces of up to six people in a household and switches to each person’s own home screen, complete with their messages, calendar, photos and reminders, so a fooled camera could expose another person’s private information.
Apple’s answer, according to the code, is a lockout system. After three spoof attempts on a profile, the user has to authenticate with an iPhone before any personal data is shown. The protection is already enabled in HomeView software 27.2. Apple is also said to be working on a cooldown system like the iPhone’s wrong-passcode lockout, with waits of one, four and eight hours for repeat lockouts.
What HomeView is, and when it arrives
HomeView is Apple’s first dedicated smart home hub, announced on October 13. It has a 7-inch Liquid Retina display, comes in tabletop and wall-mounted versions, and costs $299.
The pitch is a screen that belongs to the whole household but feels personal to each person using it. It recognises faces, so the display shifts from a shared household screen to an individual’s own home screen with their apps and widgets. It runs Siri AI, with conversations that continue in the Siri app on other Apple devices, and shows personal content from Messages, FaceTime, Calendar, Reminders and Find My when the enrolled user is recognised and their iPhone or iPad is nearby.
It is also a control centre for the connected home, with smart home controls, a camera view showing up to nine live feeds, alarm detection, and support for Apple Home and Matter accessories, plus Apple Music, Podcasts, News and Apple TV. One notable gap: it will not go on sale in the European Union at launch, because Siri AI is currently unavailable in iOS there.
Why this matters
If chatbot support does arrive, it would change what HomeView is for. Right now it is a smart home controller with Siri AI built in. With third-party chatbots, it would become a shared household AI terminal, a screen in the kitchen or living room where anyone could talk to the AI assistant they prefer, not just Apple’s. For now, though, this is a code clue, not a promise. The category exists, the groundwork is being laid, and the security features around it are already live. Whether ChatGPT or Claude actually appear on HomeView, and when, is still Apple’s to announce.
FAQs
Will Apple HomeView run ChatGPT and Claude?
Not yet. Code in the iOS 27.3 beta includes a “Conversational Apps” category for HomeView, but Apple has announced nothing and neither company has confirmed an app.
When does HomeView launch, and how much does it cost?
HomeView launches on November 13 for $299, in desktop and wall-mounted versions. It has a 7-inch display, face recognition for up to six users, and Siri AI built in.
What is the anti-spoofing protection found in the beta?
After three spoof attempts on a profile, the user must authenticate with an iPhone to see personal data. It is already enabled in HomeView software 27.2.
Does HomeView have an App Store?
No. It shows CarPlay-style third-party apps from a connected iPhone or iPad, with Apple controlling which app categories are allowed on the hub.
Will HomeView be sold in the European Union?
Not at launch. Siri AI is currently unavailable in iOS in the EU.
The $299 hub reaches shops Friday, November 13. The chatbot question is one to watch in the updates that follow.
