On September 5 (local time), a day before the official opening of IFA 2024, Samsung Electronics is holding a ‘Ballie Show’ at City Cube in Berlin, Germany, the company’s exclusive booth, to demonstrate Ballie’s personalised services. (Image provided by Samsung Elecs)
SEOUL, Sept. 6 (Korea Bizwire) – Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics have introduced their latest artificial intelligence companion robots at IFA 2024, Europe’s largest consumer electronics trade show.
Samsung’s offering, a spherical yellow robot named Ballie, took center stage during a demonstration on September 5, a day before the official opening of IFA. The robot showcased its personalized services in what the company dubbed the “Ballie Show.”
During the presentation, Ballie diligently followed its demonstrator, promptly responding to various commands. Equipped with a projector, the robot displayed images of recommended tourist attractions on a wall when asked, “Suggest some places to visit in Berlin.”
Ballie also demonstrated its utility in home energy management by providing real-time electricity rates and usage information through Samsung’s SmartThings platform. In a display of its communication capabilities, when instructed to “Call Amy,” Ballie initiated a speakerphone call and continued to follow the moving demonstrator.
Not to be outdone, LG Electronics presented its own Self-Driving AI Home Hub at the event. This autonomous robot, equipped with wheels and self-driving technology, showcased a range of emotive expressions through its screen-based “eyes,” including winks and smiles. It even performed dance moves, adding a touch of whimsy to its technological prowess.
LG Electronics presented its own Self-Driving AI Home Hub at the event. (Image provided by LG Elecs)
The LG robot demonstrated its versatility by responding to voice commands, such as switching to sleep mode, whereupon it turned off its lights and wished the user a pleasant night. In other demonstrations, the robot created stories based on drawings made by users and provided book summaries after recognizing cover images.
LG Electronics aims to refine the device further, with plans for a market launch next year. The official name for the product has yet to be determined.
This showcase of AI companion robots by both Samsung and LG follows their similar presentations at CES 2024, the world’s largest consumer electronics and IT exhibition held earlier this year.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
