Samsung has officially reentered the home robotics race with a sleek and intelligent companion robot that looks more like a Pixar character than a piece of technology. Meet Ballie—the yellow, spherical, AI-powered home assistant set to roll into U.S. homes in summer 2025.
This long-awaited release follows Ballie’s initial reveal in 2020 as a concept at CES. Since then, Samsung has refined and upgraded the robot into a full-fledged member of the smart home ecosystem.
A Rolling Revolution in Home Living
Ballie’s form is deceptively simple: a two-wheeled robotic ball, roughly the size of a small watermelon. But inside, it’s packed with cutting-edge technology. The robot has a built-in projector, microphone, and speaker—tools that help Ballie both interact with its environment and communicate naturally with household members.
More importantly, Ballie has brains. It now runs on generative AI powered by a fusion of Google’s Gemini AI system and Samsung’s proprietary models. This blend allows the robot to understand complex contexts, adapt to user behavior, and even hold personalized conversations.
Ballie isn’t just a glorified Roomba. It’s designed to manage and optimize smart home systems, give reminders, monitor health habits, and even offer fashion advice.
Smarter Than Ever Before
What makes Ballie truly stand out is how it integrates with Samsung’s SmartThings ecosystem. Lights, thermostats, TVs, vacuum cleaners—Ballie can command them all.
In a demonstration earlier this year, Ballie projected a video call onto a wall, paused a TV show when the owner received a phone call, and adjusted the lighting for evening relaxation—all without a single voice command. Instead, Ballie observed, anticipated, and acted autonomously.
Samsung touts Ballie as more than a tech gimmick. “This is a lifestyle companion,” says Park Ji-sung, Head of Home Robotics at Samsung Electronics. “Ballie brings warmth, intelligence, and charm into the smart home experience.”
A Friendly Presence, A Personal Touch
Ballie’s personality is intentionally soft and approachable. It emits gentle chimes, chirps, and movements, creating a sense of companionship more akin to a pet than a machine. Its facial expressions are animated through lights and projections, enabling it to express emotion and even empathy.
It’s also been engineered with privacy and security in mind. Its camera can be turned off with a tap, and all personal data remains encrypted and local.
What to Expect This Summer
Samsung confirmed that Ballie will launch in select markets, including the U.S. and South Korea, starting in June 2025. While the company hasn’t yet disclosed a price, industry insiders estimate a range between $900 to $1,200.
Whether it becomes a household staple or a novelty gadget remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—Ballie is not just a toy; it’s a glimpse into the future of home interaction.