How this robot is designed to assist you with tasks, entertainment, be your companion
'CyberGuy': This personal assistant is on a roll
Kurt Knutsson introduces you to Samsung’s Ballie, a small spherical AI robot that can project videos, control your home and keep you company.
Have you ever wished you had a personal assistant who could follow you around, take care of your chores, entertain you, and keep you updated on the latest news and events? Well, you might be in luck, because Samsung has just unveiled a new version of its AI home companion robot, Ballie, that can do all that and more.
Ballie the AI home companion robot (Samsung) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
What is this personal assistant robot?
Ballie is a round, ball-shaped robot that can autonomously roll around your home and interact with other smart devices to provide customized services and act as your personal home assistant. It was first introduced at CES 2020 as a cute and friendly gadget that could monitor your pets, play with your kids, and activate your smart appliances.
Now four years later, Ballie has evolved into a more advanced and versatile device that can project images and videos on walls, floors, and ceilings, control non-connected appliances with its infrared transmitter, and communicate with you via voice and text messages.
Ballie the AI home companion robot (Samsung) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
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How the personal assistant robot works
Ballie uses a spatial LiDAR sensor and a 1080p projector to navigate your home and display various content on your surroundings. It can also connect to your smartphone, tablet, PC, and TV to access your data and preferences. Ballie learns from your patterns and habits to provide smarter and more personalized services.
Ballie the AI home companion robot (Samsung) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
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8 things the robot can do for you and your pet
1) Greet you when you come home by projecting the word "Welcome" and showing you your schedule, weather, and reminders.
Ballie the AI home companion robot (Samsung) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
2) Play your favorite music, podcasts, or audiobooks, and adjust the volume and lighting according to your mood.
3) Project workout videos on the wall or floor in an optimal size and track your progress and calories burned.
Ballie the AI home companion robot (Samsung) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
4) Answer your phone calls and show you who is calling on the wall or ceiling.
5) Send you video updates of your pets or loved ones when you are away from home and let you talk to them via voice or text messages.
6) Project a video of greenery or scenery on the floor for your pet to enjoy and play with or even feed them.
7) Switch on or off your lights, thermostat, security system and other smart devices according to your schedule and preferences.
8) Control your non-connected appliances, such as your coffee maker, toaster, oven, and washing machine, with its infrared transmitter.
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When can I get my hands on one of these robots?
Samsung announced that Ballie would be available for sale within the year but did not reveal any details on the pricing or availability. However, it is expected that Ballie will be compatible with Samsung’s SmartThings platform and other third-party devices and services. Samsung also said that Ballie will have various customization options such as colors, skins, and accessories to suit different tastes and personalities. To be honest, part of me is very curious about Ballie, while another part of me wants to kick it across the room. I’m still searching to strike the balance to hang on to my humanity while embracing the future.
Kurt's key takeaways
Ballie is not the first companion robot of its kind, but it could potentially become a popular and useful gadget for many households. What's great about Ballie is that it can assist you, entertain you, and connect you with your pets or loved ones. Ballie shows us that the future of smart homes is not only about convenience but also about creativity, personality, and emotion. We are curious to see how Ballie will evolve and improve over time, and how it will interact with other devices and services.
What do you think of Ballie? Would you like to have one in your home? What features or functions would you most use? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.
