
Remember Samsung's Ballie? The adorable, small spherical robot with futuristic AI features that resembled BB-8 from Star Wars? In case you don't, Ballie made its debut at CES 2020 but never made it to the market. Samsung hesitated due to uncertainties regarding its viability, prompting a complete overhaul of the rolling robot. And now, Ballie is making a comeback after a substantial redesign.
At CES 2024, Samsung has reintroduced a revamped Ballie, notably emphasising the term "redesigned." The new Ballie is larger, equipped with wheels, and showcases a built-in projector capable of displaying images on various surfaces — be it the floor, walls, or ceiling.
Described by the tech giant as a personal home assistant, Ballie autonomously navigates around the house and fulfils a range of tasks. It functions as a smart hub, managing home appliances and SmartThings-connected devices. Additionally, it operates via voice commands, allowing users to change SmartThings scenes effortlessly.
The updated Ballie appears sturdier and more stable. As demonstrated in Samsung's official CES 2024 presentation video, the robot is highlighted as an ideal companion for pets, capable of feeding or entertaining them with its array of abilities.
Moreover, Ballie has the capability to play music, project workout videos, stream content, handle phone calls, and facilitate video calls. Samsung emphasises that the robot continuously learns from user behaviour and habits to provide more intelligent and tailored services.
Interestingly, the original Ballie design makes a brief appearance towards the end of the promotional video, serving as a nostalgic nod to its inception.
Despite the intriguing advancements, Samsung has kept mum about Ballie's release date or its price tag, even at CES 2024. As a result, consumers can only anticipate that the redesigned Ballie is indeed slated for launch, without facing a fate similar to its 2020 predecessor, which never hit the shelves.