After five long years, we are on the verge of Samsung’s home AI companion debut.
Initially unveiled as a concept at CES 2020, Samsung’s Ballie is a compact, spherical home robot engineered to serve as a personal AI companion. Following years of development and anticipation, Ballie is set for launch later this summer in the U.S. and South Korea. This robot is crafted to help with daily tasks, provide tailored insights, and integrate fluidly into smart home setups.
Samsung recently revealed a broadened partnership with Google Cloud to incorporate the Gemini AI model into Ballie. Gemini is Google’s sophisticated multimodal AI, capable of interpreting and responding to various inputs like audio, video, and sensor information. This collaboration seeks to enhance Ballie’s intelligence, responsiveness, and proactive assistance capabilities.
“By integrating Gemini’s powerful multimodal reasoning with Samsung’s AI technology in Ballie, we are harnessing the potential of open collaboration to usher in a new era of personalized AI companionship,” stated Yongjae Kim, EVP of Samsung’s Visual Display Business.
Ballie is intended to transcend the role of a mere voice assistant. Equipped with an onboard camera, sensors, and AI features, it can engage with its surroundings and users effectively. Here are some of its notable functionalities:
Among Ballie’s remarkable features is its capacity for real-time adaptation. By merging Samsung’s proprietary AI with Gemini’s multimodal reasoning, Ballie can learn from user interactions and environmental alterations. This capability enables it to provide increasingly tailored assistance over time, establishing it as a genuinely dynamic home companion.
Samsung has confirmed that Ballie will be available in the summer of 2024 in both the U.S. and South Korea. While earlier comments from Samsung’s vice chairman Han Jong-hee implied a release in the first half of 2025, the latest timeline indicates a launch before the end of June 2024. Final product details are still being finalized, but Samsung assures that more information will be forthcoming shortly.
Those interested can register for updates on Samsung’s official website to receive news about Ballie’s release and features.
With Ballie, Samsung aims to transform the concept of a home assistant. By merging innovative hardware with groundbreaking AI from Google Cloud’s Gemini, Ballie is set to be an intuitive, intelligent, and highly personal companion. Whether assisting with wardrobe choices, home management, or wellness support, Ballie is prepared to become a key element in the smart homes of tomorrow.
As we draw closer to its official launch, Ballie signifies not merely a new product, but a new
