After a long wait, Samsung’s delightful yellow AI robot, Ballie, is making headlines again at CES 2025. First introduced in 2020 and reimagined in 2024 with impressive AI capabilities, Ballie is confirmed for a launch in the first half of 2025 and boasts new enhancements, including Vision AI features and support for multiple languages.
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Design and Technology
Ballie retains its vibrant yellow design, complete with wheels for seamless movement around your home. The compact robot is equipped with various sensors and a projector that allows it to entertain and assist users by projecting answers and media onto furniture or walls. TechRadar’s managing editor, Josephine Watson, and I witnessed Ballie’s capabilities firsthand during a demonstration.
- Projector: Ballie includes a Full HD triple-laser projector, offering quality close to the Premiere 5 and is touted as the world’s first switchable lens projector.
- Mobility: The robot glides effortlessly over flat surfaces, enhancing user experience and functionality.
- Cameras: With a 2K rear camera and a 4K front camera, Ballie captures high-resolution images and information to enhance interaction.
Voice Activation and Sensors
Samsung has built Ballie’s voice recognition system using four far-field microphones, enabling it to respond to the command “Hey Ballie.” The integration of advanced sensors, including LiDAR and a Time of Flight (ToF) sensor, aims to improve its navigational abilities and overall performance. The development team has taken lessons from the Samsung Bespoke Jet Bot Combo AI to ensure a more refined experience with Ballie.
Features and Capabilities
Ballie is designed as an AI companion for everyday life, capable of performing various tasks and providing information tailored to individual needs. Some of its key features include:
- Personalized Interaction: Ballie can adapt to your lifestyle, suggesting activities, providing weather updates, or assisting with household chores.
- Home Integration: Anticipated to integrate seamlessly with other smart devices, Ballie can control connected lights and other appliances.
- Content Projection: In our demonstration, Ballie projected lists of activities, such as tourist attractions in Las Vegas, on different surfaces, showcasing its ability to interact visually with users.
- Language Support: With guidance in English, Spanish, and Korean, Ballie is accessible to a broader audience.
Market Anticipation
As we look forward to Ballie’s launch in the first half of 2025, it’s essential to consider how Samsung will position this unique device in the competitive market of home robotics. According to Lydia Cho, Head of Product, Home Entertainment at Samsung, the aim was to ensure that Ballie arrives at the right time with the right features and concept. She expressed confidence that the integration of Vision AI would significantly enhance the user experience and bring personalization to the forefront.
Notably, Ballie’s cheerful appearance contrasts sharply with robotic designs from competitors like Tesla’s humanoid bot or Boston Dynamics’ robot dog. As Amazon’s Astro remains in invite-only status, there is ample opportunity for Samsung to carve out a significant share of the growing home robotics sector.
With the official unveiling happening before CES 2025 even begins, Ballie is poised to be central to Samsung’s showcase at the event. The excitement surrounding this innovative AI companion continues to grow, and with consumers eager to learn about its capabilities and pricing, we anticipate a strong demand upon its release.
Samsung’s efforts to refine Ballie reflect an understanding of consumer desires for technology that enhances daily life without feeling intrusive. If they deliver on the promises made thus far, Ballie could redefine our perception of household companions.
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