In a world where technology is becoming more helpful every day, Samsung is taking things a step further with Ballie—a small, round robot designed to assist around the house. This smart, AI-powered companion is built to learn from your daily routine and help manage your home. First shown as a concept in 2020, Ballie has grown into a more advanced and useful machine and it’s finally expected to launch in the summer of 2025.
Let’s take a look at Ballie’s journey, its design and what makes it different from other smart robots.
From a Tiny Idea to a Real Product
Samsung first introduced Ballie at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in 2020. Back then, it was a small robot about the size of a softball. It could follow users and respond to simple commands but it was still a work in progress. As Ars Technica noted—the early version was cute and mobile but lacked any strong features that could make it useful as a home assistant.
Four years later at CES 2024, a new and improved Ballie was revealed. It had grown in size; now about as big as a bowling ball, but that size increase came with better technology. Samsung added a built-in projector, better AI and more powerful batteries. According to the company this version will finally be available for purchase in the U.S. in mid-2025.
“The goal was always to build something useful and friendly—something that feels more like a companion than a machine,” said a Samsung engineer during the event.
Design Built for Everyday Homes
The new Ballie has a round yellow body that is meant to look cheerful and inviting. It rolls around on two wheels, and can rotate smoothly in place. Unlike some other home robots like Amazon’s Astro, which uses a three-wheel setup, Ballie keeps things simple and clean. Its two-wheel design makes it agile and quiet—especially on flat surfaces.
Android Headlines pointed out that Ballie’s size and shape help it avoid furniture and walls easily. It’s designed to move around a typical home without getting stuck or lost. Ballie is packed with sensors that help it understand where it is and what’s around it.
It uses LiDAR technology to scan its environment, and build a 3D map of your home. That way it can travel from one room to another, without needing any help. It also has two cameras: one in front that can shoot in 4K, and a rear camera with 2K resolution. These are used for both navigation and video communication.
There are also Time of Flight (ToF) sensors—which help Ballie know how far away objects are. As Yanko Design explains, these sensors allow Ballie to “see” depth which makes it better at avoiding things like pets, toys or furniture.
This mix of sensors is what lets Ballie be fully autonomous. You don’t need to control it with a remote—it decides where to go, and what to do all on its own.
A Robot That Knows What You Like
Ballie isn’t just about moving around; it’s smart. Thanks to artificial intelligence it can learn your daily habits and preferences. Over time it gets better at helping you. It connects with Samsung’s SmartThings network—meaning it can control smart lights, thermostats and even appliances like washing machines.
If you say “Ballie, turn off the lights” it will. But it can also do things on its own, like dim the lights in the evening or suggest outfits in the morning, by analyzing what you’re wearing.
And that’s not all! Samsung has worked with Google to include Gemini AI which allows Ballie to offer suggestions about your health or sleep patterns. If you’re doing yoga it might suggest a better pose. If you’ve had a long day it might tell you to get more rest.
“We are excited to bring Ballie to consumers after years of showcasing its development,” said Samsung’s representatives, according to 9 Meters.
One of Ballie’s most exciting features is its built-in projector. It can show high-quality videos, images reminders, or even workout routines on your walls or floors. This isn’t just for fun—it’s also for function.
Let’s say you’re cooking. Ballie can project a recipe on the wall or if you’re exercising it can play a fitness video on the floor in front of you. The projector even changes its angle depending on your position so you can always see clearly.
Another cool feature is virtual buttons—Ballie can project them on the floor and you can press them with your foot to give commands. It’s a fun hands-free way to interact with technology
Why Ballie Stood Out at CES 2024
At CES 2024, Ballie became one of the most talked-about gadgets at the entire Samsung booth. Media outlets and tech fans were impressed by how Samsung combined AI robotics, and mobile technology into one small machine.
SamMobile noted that Ballie’s charm wasn’t just in its performance—it was also in its appearance. While it comes in yellow and white, people are already hoping for special editions with custom designs. Imagine a Ballie that looks like a sports ball or has colors based on your favorite movie character.
Ballie is part of Samsung’s bigger plan to bring “AI for All” into homes. With its smart features, fun personality and useful tools it could become more than gadget. It might be the kind of technology that feels like a friend—one that helps learn and grows alongside its user.
As we move closer to Ballie’s release in summer 2025 people are excited to see if it will live up to the hype. If it does, the way we live at home could change forever.
And for many that change might start with a simple rolling ball.
