(Credit: Samsung)
Samsung will launch its home AI companion robot, Ballie, in the US and Korea this summer. Powered by Google’s Gemini AI technology, it will help users manage some home activities, such as adjusting lights, greeting people at the door, and setting schedules and reminders.
Samsung has been working on Ballie since 2020, and demos shared at CES 2025 revealed that it could also act as a mini projector, an AI assistant that responds to queries, and even turn on a gaming PC. Samsung’s promo page has a few more examples.
The Gemini integration will allow the home robot to process audio and video inputs, visual data from its camera, and data from its sensors, Samsung says. That means if you ask Ballie how you look, it will provide a response along with suggestions, if any, for better accessories and outfits.
Ballie can also answer health and wellbeing-related queries, Samsung says. If you're tired, you could ask the robot about ways to improve energy levels. It will then use Gemini to go through Google Search results and come up with a tailored response.
Samsung has reportedly been planning to launch an AI Subscription Club for Ballie and Galaxy smartphones. However, the company has yet to reveal what the subscription or the home robot would cost off the shelves.
Meanwhile, Apple is also reportedly working on a smart home hub and a home robot. The iPhone maker was rumored to launch its smart home hub in March, but the project has been delayed due to the pending rollout of some Apple Intelligence features for Siri, according to Bloomberg. The home robot with arms, on the other hand, is expected to arrive by 2027.