U.S. Commerce Secretary Lutnick: Assembling iPhones in America hinges on robots

Apple’s Daisy robot can disassemble up to 1.2 million phones each year, helping Apple recover more valuable materials for recycling.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick revealed on CNBC that Apple CEO Tim Cook is eager to bring iPhone manufacturing to the United States, but with a catch: it hinges on advanced robotics.

In a recent conversation, Cook emphasized that robotic arms are essential to make domestic production economically viable, dismissing the notion of U.S. workers manually assembling iPhones at scale. This aligns with President Trump’s tariff policies, which impose over 100% levies on Chinese imports to incentivize American manufacturing.

Lutnick’s comments clarify earlier concerns that tariffs could inflate iPhone prices to $3,000, suggesting automation could keep costs competitive. Apple’s strategic pivot to India, where new iPhone factories began production this year, reflects efforts to diversify from China amid trade tensions. However, Lutnick’s vision of a robotic-driven U.S. manufacturing resurgence raises questions about job creation, as automation may limit opportunities for American workers.

Apple’s robotics focus could reshape its supply chain, but the timeline and economic impact remain uncertain as tariffs and global trade dynamics evolve.
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MacDailyNews Take: We have robots to take iPhones apart, but not to put them together. Run factoeiwa full of Daisy bots in reverse.

(Joke: We know Daisy is far too crude to assemble iPhones.)

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