If when we move into the future we’re going to have some creepy robot companions running our homes, at least they should be cute.
Regardless, this seems to be Samsung’s MO. The South Korean tech giant used its CES 2024 press conference to show off the new and improved Ballie, a spherical robot friend originally announced in the distant days before the coronavirus outbreak in early 2020. The new Ballie hasn’t launched yet, judging by a price or release date, but it appears to be larger and have a smoother exterior texture than the prototype shown four years ago.
CES 2024: This wacky laptop lets you snap on a tablet…or a fan…or a robot companion
Instead of bringing Ballie to a stage or anything, Samsung opted for a quick proof-of-concept teaser video. In the trailer, you can see Barley remotely warning his owner that their dog is up to something bad, before refilling the dog’s (smart?) food bowl with food. Ballie can also remotely control Samsung smart home devices such as lights and other appliances. Communication between Ballie and its owner appears to be in the form of a messaging-like app.
Unanswered questions about the Ballie (aside from when we can get it and how much it will cost) include how well it rolls on different surfaces, how long its battery lasts, how it charges, and whether your dog can and You get along or seek to eliminate it.
But at least we know what Barry’s life was like. That’s what really matters.
