Ballie is a robot assistant that looks like the love child of BB-8 and a tennis ball

Samsung’s latest attempt to have tech improve people’s lives turns out to be a ball. More specifically, it’s Ballie (£TBC), which resembles a cross between a tennis ball and a reject from Star Wars droid auditions. Rather than you using your phone to have the little ‘bot trundle about, on-board AI aims to understand your changing needs and react accordingly. So Ballie will bleep and bloop as it opens your curtains, help you keep fit, call for assistance if you fall and don’t get up, entertain your pet (including, oddly, by firing up your telly), capture moments using its built-in camera, and order any nearby smart vacuum to clean up after Ballie and said pet invite their chums over for a party and make a mess on the floor.

Craig Grannell Contributor

About

I’m a regular contributor to Stuff magazine and Stuff.tv, covering apps, games, Apple kit, Android, Lego, retro gaming and other interesting oddities. I also pen opinion pieces when the editor lets me, getting all serious about accessibility and predicting when sentient AI smart cookware will take over the world, in a terrifying mix of Bake Off and Terminator.

Areas of expertise

Mobile apps and games, Macs, iOS and tvOS devices, Android, retro games, crowdfunding, design, how to fight off an enraged smart saucepan with a massive stick.