Samsung introduces ‘pretty busy’ life companion robot for CES 2020
Samsung introduced its vision of a robot as a life companion, called Balliee, during a corporate keynote Monday night ahead of CES.
Sebastian Seung, an executive vice president with Samsung, told the crowd: “Ballie patrols your home to keep you safe.”
Ballie — which looks like a yellow ball — is also a fitness coach, a new friend to your children, and a camera that records and stores special moments.
“For a little robot, he is pretty busy,” Seung said.
Gary Shapiro, president and CEO for the Consumer Electronics Association, kicked off the event by saying the keynote will address the question of whether the industry will adapt to the looming challenges in the decade ahead.
Samsung remains the number one TV maker in the world — and has for 14 years, Shapiro said.
The keynote — with a theme of “age of experience” — was interspersed with videos and demonstrations. It was led by Hyun-Suk Kim, president and CEO of Samsung’s consumer electronics division.
About 67 percent of U.S. households have a pet, Kim said, and many see themselves as “pet parents.” Who we are and take care of is changing, he said, and lifestyles are changing.
This decade is the “age of experience,” he said, adding the majority of people value experiences more than material possessions.
Kim addressed the topic of data security, by saying the company’s committment to security will never waiver and devices are protected by Samsung Knox security features.
Another topic was Samsung’s health initiatives. One company executive said artificial intelligence is the future of personalized care. And Samsung demonstrated its GEMS, which stands for Gait Enhancing & Motivating System.
Samsung executives also talked about smart kitchen and living room technology. And Emily Becher, senior vice president and head of Samsung NEXT Global, shared the company’s vision for what a “smart city” will look like.
For example, she said, a smart building would alert management before something ever happens.
Contact Julie Wootton-Greener at jgreener@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2921. Follow @julieswootton on Twitter.
