Last week, I attended IFA in Berlin, and it was an exciting experience to see firsthand the latest next-gen products and innovations from top tech brands. While there were plenty of lawnmowers and new AI-powered laptops, including Lenovo’s world-first Auto Twist laptop concept, what really caught my attention were the exhibits from Samsung and Hisense.
Two standouts were Samsung’s yellow Ballie robot and Hisense’s new Assistant robot, named Harley. They completely won me over with their adorable design and impressive functionality. Over the years, I’ve tested a wide range of smart home robots, including advanced pet cameras for our sister site, Digital Camera World, but these demonstrations felt truly futuristic. I also caught a glimpse of LG’s latest Self-Driving AI Home Hub robot but missed a live demo.
Interestingly, despite being one of my favorite products at IFA, Samsung’s Ballie wasn’t mentioned during the company’s official press conference. However, I was fortunate to see a live demonstration after the event. You can watch the video below to see what Ballie is capable of, along with a glimpse of Hisense’s dancing robot show.
Ballie’s yellow design makes it resemble a softball (when it was first introduced at CES 2020, it was the size of a small tennis ball). This upgraded version is now much larger, around the size of a bowling ball, and even features a built-in projector. Ballie can follow you around your home, interact with other smart devices, and respond to queries by projecting images onto the floor, wall, or ceiling based on its position.
Although there’s no word yet on Ballie’s price—or even if it will be available to the public—it was still an impressive demo. It made me think about its potential as an AI companion. On the other hand, Hisense’s Harley, the smart home assistant robot, is set to launch within the next 12 months, and the version shown at IFA was only a second-generation prototype.
Robotics, much like an upgraded version of Alexa, are poised to shape the future of smart home electronics. AI could soon be integrated into every aspect of our homes, with hundreds of smart appliances on display at IFA, including eco-friendly laundry machines, AI-powered refrigerators, ovens that can monitor cooking, and even pool-cleaning robots. Soon, we may never need to lift a finger again.
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