Samsung's small, ball-shaped home robot, Ballie, is finally getting a release window. First introduced in 2020 as a concept and reintroduced at CES 2024 with some notable upgrades, Ballie is now expected to arrive in homes in the U.S. and South Korea this summer. It’s part personal assistant, part projector, part smart home hub—and it's designed to move around your house to help you out in everyday life.

Ballie is shaped like a large tennis ball, but it's packed with tech. It rolls around your home on its own, using its camera and sensors to navigate spaces, avoid obstacles, and interact with people. The idea is that instead of a stationary smart speaker or display, Ballie can bring its features to you—wherever you are.

Its most noticeable feature is the built-in projector. That means Ballie can display images or videos directly onto walls or floors. Want to check the weather while you’re making breakfast? Ballie can project it on the kitchen wall. Need a workout video in the living room? Ballie can roll over and play it for you. You don’t need a separate screen—it brings the screen to you.

The robot also includes a speaker and microphone, so it can respond to voice commands and play music or audio. You can ask it questions, tell it to control smart home devices, or even get it to help you plan your day.

One of the biggest updates coming with this version of Ballie is its integration with Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence system. This AI allows Ballie to better understand and respond to more complex commands and situations.

For example, you can say something like, “Hey Ballie, how do I look today?” and the robot will use its camera to give you feedback—maybe suggesting a different outfit or reminding you of the weather. If you say you’re feeling tired, Ballie might suggest a stretch routine or show a video with tips to boost your energy.

This kind of AI-driven interaction aims to go beyond basic voice commands, offering more contextual help based on what it sees and hears. Ballie is designed to understand the environment it’s in, which means it could, in theory, tailor its responses and actions to fit the moment.

Ballie is meant to act as the moving hub of your smart home. It can control your lights, thermostat, robot vacuum, or other connected devices using voice commands or scheduled routines. Instead of having multiple devices in every room, the idea is that Ballie brings the control center with it.

Samsung also says that Ballie will be able to greet you at the door, check in on pets while you're away, or act as a mobile intercom between rooms.

And because it can move on its own, it doesn’t have to stay in one place like a typical smart speaker or display—it comes to you when needed.

Ballie isn’t just focused on productivity. Samsung is also positioning it as a wellness tool. It can project yoga or workout routines, keep track of your sleep habits (to some extent), and even help set a calming atmosphere in the evening.

Plus, the robot is designed to show a bit of personality. It doesn’t talk in a human voice but uses sounds, expressions, and movements to communicate—kind of like a pet or animated character. This approach is meant to make it feel approachable and easy to live with, especially for people who may not be used to talking to robots.

Samsung hasn’t announced the exact date or pricing just yet, but it has confirmed that Ballie will be available sometime this summer in the U.S. and South Korea. Given its combination of hardware and AI-powered features, Ballie is expected to be positioned in the premium price range.

Those who are curious or interested can sign up on Samsung’s website to receive updates on preorders and release information as it becomes available.

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