Samsung confirmed off a reworked Ballie, a sunshine-yellow autonomously driving robotic, at CES 2024. Described as an “at-home assistant,” this bowling ball of a robotic is designed to reply your cellphone calls, play calming music, show the most popular information tales, and extra. Maybe I’m the kind of person who’s simply charmed by whimsical issues, however this little dude knocked the contrarian proper out of me. Sure, it’s a sensible gadget in some methods, however will it catch-on with a bigger viewers? Debatable (however most likely not).

One of the cooler issues about Ballie is its built-in 1080p projector and spatial LiDAR sensor. That means it’ll undertaking films and convention calls on the ground, wall, or every other onerous floor. It additionally greets you on the door with the projected phrase “Welcome,” which I discover to be actually cute and heartwarming. Heck, you possibly can even check out your pet once you’re not dwelling. Ballie will ship you clips of no matter it sees in its rapid setting, together with your loved one pooch. The tiny robotic will even (supposedly) name for assist in the occasion of an individual falling down.

Ballie is, roughly, a cellular model of Google Home or Alexa. In phrases of features, Ballie can do what most sensible assistants can do. It can flip the lights on or off, textual content your bosom buddies, and so forth. The solely actual distinction is that Ballie has a projector… and may comply with you round like a curious cat. Nothing fairly like being stalked by a sensible bowling ball.

The earlier model of Ballie, which debuted again in 2020, seemed extra like a tennis ball manufactured from Legos than a robotic. The 2024 mannequin has a extra polished design. It’s additionally friendlier trying than its predecessor, which elicits emotions of real affection (not less than from me!).

The following questions stay: How a lot will Ballie price and when will it’s available for purchase? No phrase on both of these issues as of but, however I count on it’ll price a fairly penny. Amazon’s Astro robot, for instance, prices a whopping $1,599.99 and can probably be a direct competitor to Samsung’s Ballie.