You communicate with Ballie through voice, and at times, the robot also projects virtual buttons onto the floor that can be stepped on to make a selection. (I’m curious as to what its accessibility features might entail.) Samsung has also given Ballie plenty of power over the smart home; you can tell it to control your lights and various routines.

Tech companies love rolling a robot out onstage. These systems serve as shorthand for consumer electronics brands branching out into a more bleeding-edge