Meet Ballie: Samsung unveils tiny wheeled robot that follows you around and acts as your personal AI assistant – and even keeps your dog company
- Samsung introduced a tiny new robotic assistant called Ballie at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas
- The wheeled assistant will help operate an owner’s smart home
- Samsung says that users can employ the device to patrol their home and keep them safe, and as a fitness assistant that gently nudges users to keep moving
- Ballie will complement GEMS, a suite of fitness technology
- The bot could even keep pets company while the owner is out of the house
- But Samsung’s supposed ‘Artificial Human’ called Neon was notably absent from the keynote address at CES
Samsung have unveiled a tiny robot assistant in the shape of a ball, which can roll around and help patrol a users home – and even act as a fitness buddy.
The tech giant unveiled ‘Ballie’ during one of two keynotes at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Samsung consumer electronics CEO H.S. Kim demonstrated how the ball-shaped bot is able to follow its owner around, traveling closely but also recognizing personal space and speed.
Samsung’s ‘Ballie’ was revealed during one of two keynotes at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas
Samsung consumer electronics CEO H.S. Kim demonstrated how the ball-shaped bot works
When Kim stepped forward, Ballie reacted by wheeling itself further back; when Kim began to increase his pace, Ballie sped up.
‘I think he likes me,’ Kim said turning to the crowd.
Ballie is also voice-activated. Kim was able to call the device to attention by uttering ‘Say hello, Ballie.’
Samsung says that users can employ the device to patrol their home and keep them safe, and as a fitness assistant that gently nudges users to keep moving.
It can also be used as a remote control that helps seniors connect with the other smart devices in their home – and call for help in an emergency.
The company says that it wants Ballie to be much more than just another device, however. Samsung says users can use Ballie to capture events with its camera or as a companion that can keep pets company.
Ballie follows Kim around the stage at CES
Sebastian Seung, executive vice president at Samsung Research, reveals the new robot
Ballie fits in nicely, not just with Samsung’s ‘Age of Experience’ motto, but with its new breed of virtual assistants and lifestyle products.
In addition to Ballie, Samsung gave the first ever demonstration of a separate, health-focused, AI assistant which can be coupled with hardware called ‘Gems’ to optimize workouts.
‘Gems,’ which stands for Gait Enhancing & Motivating System, is a suite of devices that uses AR glasses and a low-profile exoskeleton – sensors that are strapped around a users’ hips – to map and analyze one’s movements.
Through the AR glasses, users are aided by a virtual assistant that is superimposed on-screen. The assistant talks them through the work out and gives them advice as they go along.
Samsung says that users can employ the device to patrol their home and keep them safe
Data gleaned from the exoskeleton and a user’s workout can be sent to a professional for more analysis.
On top of improving workouts, Samsung has positioned the device as a means of helping the physically impaired regain and strengthen their motor skills.
While the introduction of Ballie and new GEMS features were unexpected, the tech giant’s supposed ‘Artificial Human’ called Neon was notably absent from the keynote.
Neon was teased in the weeks ahead of CES, though Samsung has yet to fully relay what it is or what it will do.
While details about what Neon will actually do are sparse, the company has suggested that it will be smart enough to act as a kind of AI companion, or ‘best friend.’
Samsung has also been careful about the language it has used to describe Neon.
Instead of calling it a virtual assistant or artificial intelligence, the company has used phrases like ‘artificial human’ or ‘artificial intelligence being.’
Details on Neon are likely to surface before CES is done.
