Samsung Launching Ballie AI: Gemini-Powered Smart Home Companion

Samsung is introducing its most-awaited Ballie AI home robot to U.S. and South Korean consumers this summer. It will be the first commercial release of the device, which has been teased at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) since 2020.

With a new collaboration with Google Cloud, Ballie has been upgraded to combine the advanced multimodal generative AI of Gemini with Samsung’s model. It facilitates natural and conversational interaction to perform tasks such as controlling smart home devices. It sets reminders, provides styling, and wellness tips, as well as displays visual content via its built-in mini-projector.

“Ballie understands you, supports you, and reacts to your needs to be actively helpful around the house.”

— Hyun‑Suk Kim, President & CEO, Samsung Consumer Electronics (CES 2020 keynote)

According to The Verge, Ballie is going to be launched in the U.S. this summer with a built-in projector and a more powerful Gemini AI.

The Smart Home Integration Challenge

Problem

The devices in smart homes do not always connect. They can be hard to handle. The users desire one tool that will make it easy to control and personalise.

User Frustration

Devices typically exist as islands and fail to communicate effectively. It is complex and technical to set up. Personalisation is not proactive, user-aware, but basic. This frustrates and restricts the adoption of smart homes.

Ballie: Samsung’s Revolutionary Solution

Samsung’s Ballie is a mobile and ball-shaped AI home companion. It’s using omni-wheels to move seamlessly around your home. It is equipped with cameras, mics, speakers, sensors, and a projector. It links to Samsung SmartThings to manage lights, appliances, and more.

“We believe AI is the future of personalized care… On‑device AI puts you in control of your information and protects your privacy, while still delivering the power of personalization.”

— Sebastian Seung, EVP & Chief Research Scientist, Samsung Research (CES 2020)

“Ballie acts as a personal home assistant, autonomously driving around the home to complete various tasks.”

— Samsung announcement ahead of CES 2025

What’s new in Ballie?

Google Gemini + Samsung AI: Samsung and Google Cloud have announced the integration of Gemini with Ballie, so it can perform natural multimodal reasoning.

Multimodal Awareness (TechCrunch describes): Adding voice, visual and sensor awareness to Ballie for natural interaction.

Smart Projector: Displays reminders, directions, workouts, and media on clear walls or floors.

Utility Features: 

• Dressing tips - Hey Ballie, what do I look like?

• Health recommendations - I am feeling tired today.

• Home activities - light management, welcomes, reminders.

Competitive Comparison

Spend a Day with Ballie:

Morning

The agenda for the Project day, Ballie rolls in. That is the question: What shall I wear? It examines your clothes and recommends accessories.

Midday

If you feel tired and say to it. Ballie alerts Gemini, adjusts lights, provides reliable advice (exercise, sleep), and creates a sleep environment to turn off lights.

Evening

Ballie welcomes the guests at the door, turns off the lights to relax and reminds tasks.

Fitness Mode

Projects workout routine on the wall, plays coaches, and monitors routine with cameras and sensors.

Away Mode

Tracks pets, provides video alerts and makes your home not empty.

Tech Specs

TechRadar CES demo highlights its:

• Self-navigating using omni‑wheels and lidar/sensor mapping.

• Included mini projector, speakers, mic and cameras.

• SmartThings' operating system is Tizen, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth and Samsung Knox security.

Current Limitations

Mobility Constraints

The two-wheel, spherical design of a Ballie means it is not useful at all in multi-story homes, or it cannot be used on stairs or over uneven thresholds.

No Physical contact

Although TechRadar notes that it was Gemini integration, Ballie does not have any manipulators or arms and cannot do such things as pick up objects, open doors, or even fold laundry, which means that it is more of an expressive device, but not a helper.

Limited Utility of Projection

 It has an inbuilt projector that is workable but not bright and requires very dark environments and smooth surfaces, which make it less useful for using media or dynamic images in regular home lighting.

Breath of Gimmick as opposed to Substance

The critics observe that though Gemini helps in improving conversational capability, it fails to meaningfully extend the capabilities of Ballie; functionally, it is more like a more eloquent version of itself and can be described as having no outstanding use case because it is only novel.

Security and privacy concerns

Ballie brings privacy risks because they are equipped with roaming cameras and microphones. Samsung guarantees Knox security; however, there is a risk of constant supervision and hacking, which makes users more cautious.

Expensive and Unclear ROI (Return on Investment)

Consumers will pay over 1,000$+ to purchase a device that may not be worth its novelty and price in terms of day-to-day usage. The launch prices have not been confirmed but are most likely to be at a premium.

Launch Information

• Announcement: To be announced at CES 2025.

• Availability: Released in the U.S. & Korea in the summer of 2025.

• Expected Pricing: Price has not been announced yet, probably in high-end smart-robot territory (probably at least 1000 dollars based on the competitors). 

Samsung has an optional AI subscription, which reduces the initial investment- U.S optional, Korea subscription available.

Beta User Experiences

TechRadar Tester

The feedback observed that although Gemini boosts the conversational abilities, Ballie is still immobile. It is a more expressive robot which cannot perform real-world physical tasks.

The Verge at CES

The voice interaction, projected virtual buttons and wine-bottle recognition were demoed. The reactions were very fluid, however, with low brightness, particularly on wall projections.

“Nag-Bot” Critique (Stuff.tv)

Stuff.tv explained that the proactive personality Ballie does not always get out of the way:

“Ballie with Gemini AI isn’t so much your robot buddy as a personal nag‑bot.”

The Future of Smart Home Automation

Ballie AI robot is a solution to the smart-home pain points of Samsung. It is on the go, connected, proactive, and it runs on state-of-the-art AI. This summer, when it is released into the real world. It will be a significant step towards being a showpiece for a household companion.

Pre‑register now at the Samsung site if you reside in the U.S. or South Korea. Be on the lookout for Galaxy Unpacked Summer 2025, and Ballie might appear.

Access My Instant Dev Research Now at ZByte.

Further Reading & Related Posts

• Mastering LLM App Development for AI Automation 2025.
  Dive into how LLM models like Gemini are being structured for real-world products.

• Coding With AI: Easier Than Ever—or a Threat to Developer Jobs.
  Explore how conversational AI’s rise affects professional workflows.

• Top 7 SFW Character AI Alternatives in 2025.
  Compare other AI companions and see how Ballie fits into this emerging trend.

FAQ's

1. Is Ballie from Samsung real?

Yes — Samsung has officially confirmed Ballie as a real product. It debuted as a concept at CES 2020 and has now reappeared with full intentions for commercial release, complete with built-in projector, sensors, and Gemini AI integration.

2. What is the best AI robot in the world?

There’s no single “best” AI robot—it depends on purpose:

• Home companions: Ballie is among the early movers.

• Humanoid research robots: Tesla Optimus (~$30 K) and Engineered Arts’ Ameca stand out.

• Commercial/industrial: Robots by Unitree, Figure, and Boston Dynamics excel in specialised tasks.
  
  Each excels in different niches—no one robot rules all.

3. Is Samsung's Ballie AI companion robot set to launch in the U.S. in 2025?

Yes — Samsung confirms Ballie will launch in the U.S. and South Korea in summer 2025.

4. How much does an AI robot cost?

• Consumer/companion robots: (like home assistants or early-stage humanoids): typically $5,000–$20,000.

• Humanoid research and industrial robots: They can range from $30,000 to $150,000+.

• High-end or custom models: (e.g., Unitree G1, Optimus Gen‑2): often around $16,000 to $30,000+

5. Can I use an AI robot for free?

• Software-based AI robots (like chatbots or virtual assistants): Tools such as RoboBuddy, or frameworks like Rasa and OpenCog, are free to download and use.

• Robot simulators and development platforms:
  • Webots and Simbad offer free, open-source robot simulation (Webots is Apache-2 licensed).
  • ROS, Gazebo, Open Roberta, and similar tools are also fully open source.

• Physical open-source robot kits: Projects like Reachy 2 (now open-source via Hugging Face) allow you to build your robot companion with free software.