Samsung’s Ballie robot is finally rolling out this summer
After years of teasing, Ballie is expected to come with a Google Gemini brain and smart home tricks.
The first time we saw Ballie—Samsung’s adorable little rolling robot—was back in 2020. It was small, round, and looked like a cross between a BB-8 droid and a smart home speaker. Then came CES 2024 and CES 2025, where Ballie reappeared with a built-in projector and some flashier features. But despite the glow-up, it still didn’t have a release date.
Now, five years later since its first debut, that might finally change. Samsung says Ballie is expected to launch this summer in South Korea and the U.S.—and it’s coming with a new brain: Google Gemini AI.
That’s a pretty big upgrade. Thanks to Gemini’s multimodal skills (and Samsung’s own AI tools), Ballie’s supposed to understand voice, visuals, and whatever’s happening in your space. It could help dim your lights, greet visitors, set reminders, or even offer style tips if you ask, “How do I look today?”
But it’s not just about convenience. Samsung says Ballie will be able to suggest ways to boost your energy or help you sleep better if you mention feeling tired—pulling info from sources like Google Search in real time.
Samsung hasn’t shared how much Ballie will cost or exactly when it’ll hit shelves. But with all the hardware inside (a projector, camera, speaker, sensors) plus AI smarts, it’s likely going to be a premium product. And since Gemini already powers features in the Galaxy S24, Ballie seems like the next step in Samsung’s bigger AI-in-the-home strategy.
Ballie’s arrival also puts Samsung slightly ahead in what’s becoming a low-key robot race. Apple is rumored to be working on a home robot of its own—possibly more stationary and less R2-D2. LG and Amazon are also experimenting in this space, though none (so far) with this level of generative AI baked in.
Whether Ballie lives up to the hype is yet to be determined. But between the charm, the smarts, and the timing, Ballie might just be Samsung’s best shot yet at turning AI into something kind of lovable.
Louis Eriakha
