Samsung has officially confirmed that Ballie, its long-teased rolling smart home robot, will launch in the US this summer — and it’s getting a major intelligence upgrade courtesy of Google’s Gemini AI.
First introduced back in 2020, Ballie was pitched as a smart home companion capable of following users around, controlling devices, and even checking on pets. After a long period of silence, the robot resurfaced at CES 2024 with a sleeker design and a built-in projector, turning any nearby surface into a screen for video calls, reminders, or entertainment. But the latest announcement marks a critical evolution: Ballie now has a brain, and it’s powered by Google’s multimodal Gemini AI.
This means Ballie is no longer just a cute rolling gadget or glorified smart remote — it’s positioning itself as a full-fledged interactive home assistant. Thanks to Gemini’s ability to process audio, visuals, and environmental cues, Ballie will be able to tailor its behavior more intelligently. Whether it’s giving fashion tips, suggesting ways to boost energy, or simply engaging in a natural back-and-forth conversation, Ballie is designed to anticipate needs, not just react to voice commands.
Samsung emphasizes that this deeper level of contextual awareness is what sets Ballie apart from traditional home automation devices. The robot is meant to learn your preferences and habits over time, creating a more personalized, assistant-like experience — one that might actually feel like having a helpful, sci-fi-inspired companion in your home.
Pricing details haven’t been shared yet, but Samsung confirmed that Ballie will debut in both the US and Korea in summer 2025. Given its combination of mobility, projection capabilities, and conversational AI, Ballie could represent one of the most ambitious smart home products yet — assuming it lives up to the promise.