Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
Samsung's companion robot Ballie creates sensation at CES
Models introduce Samsung Electronics’ AI companion robot Ballie at CES in Las Vegas in this photo provided by the company, Sunday. Courtesy of Samsung Electronics
By Baek Byung-yeul
Samsung Electronics unveiled a variety of technologies at this year's CES tech trade show in Las Vegas, including a transparent micro LED TV and AI-based home appliances, and among them, Ballie, an AI companion robot, received hot attention, according to industry officials, Monday.
Samsung first introduced Ballie at the 2020 CES, and this time it unveiled an upgraded version. The soccer ball-sized yellow spherical robot was one of the most-noticed products at the company’s booth during the tech show with its cute appearance and diverse functionality.
The AI-powered self-driving robot moves freely around the home. It communicates with users by voice without a separate controller and projects images on the walls, ceiling and floor. Samsung said the product will be released within this year.
When asked what the schedule for the day was at a demonstration during CES, Ballie reminded the user not to forget their wedding anniversary and made a call to a nearby flower shop. In a video released by Samsung, it also showed scenes of feeding pets according to the owner’s instructions or turning on the TV so that pets are not bored.
Jonathan Gabrio, head of connected experience center at Samsung Electronics America, talks about improvements to Ballie, the company's AI robot, during a press conference at CES 2024 in Las Vegas, Jan. 8 (local time). Reuters-Yonhap
Ballie also received positive reviews from international media and visitors to CES. They showed expectations that the robot assistant, which connects at-home IoT devices smoothly and is equipped with a home projector function, will serve the role of a real robot housekeeper.
Samsung said that a robot equipped with AI functions will be its next-generation flagship product.
"Ballie is a robot related to homes and individuals, and although it is still in the early stages, we expect this will make rapid development," Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Han Jong-hee said during a press conference held on the sidelines of the world's largest tech trade show, Jan. 9. "There have been many robots in the past, but generative AI has raised the endless potential of the robot market, and it will be a chance for all devices to become smarter and further developed."
Samsung revealed that this robot product will be equipped with its own Tizen OS, an open-source operating system (OS), to provide better connectivity.
Tizen OS has been installed in TVs and monitor products, but more recently it is being installed in home appliances and AI devices. As of the end of 2023, this OS has been installed in about 270 million Samsung smart TVs.