Samsung's Ballie, a home robot first introduced in 2020, is unlikely to become a commercial product, facing indefinite delays after years of development and demonstrations. The robot, envisioned as a smart home companion capable of facial recognition, smart device control, and projection, was showcased at both CES 2020 and CES 2024, but has not materialized into a consumer product.
At CES 2020, Ballie was presented as a concept using facial recognition to follow its owner and interact with smart home devices, such as activating a smart vacuum when a mess was detected, according to Ars Technica. A marketing video at the time highlighted these capabilities.
The robot reappeared at CES 2024 with an updated design featuring a more spherical shape, three wheels for mobility, and a light ring. Samsung demonstrated Ballie's ability to function as a projector, claiming it could provide two to three hours of continuous use before needing a recharge. The demonstration also showed Ballie connecting with a smartphone.
Despite the advancements shown in successive demonstrations, Samsung has not announced any plans for Ballie's release, leaving its future uncertain. The lack of progress suggests challenges in bringing the technology to market at a viable price point or achieving the desired level of functionality and reliability. The industry impact of Ballie's potential cancellation is that the market for home robots may not be ready for advanced AI integration.
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