Key Takeaways
- The NEO Home Robot, ready for consumers, is the first humanoid created by 1X and is designed for domestic tasks.
- The robot is priced at $20,000 or $499 a month, with first deliveries planned for 2026.
- The NEO Home Robot features AI capabilities for learning and can be remotely directed by experts at 1X to help with complex tasks.
Table of Contents
A New Era in Home Robotics
Robotics company 1X Technologies has showcased its NEO Home Robot, claiming it is the first-of-its-kind consumer-ready humanoid robot designed specifically for household assistance.
This robot weighs 66 pounds, can lift 150 pounds, and carry 55, while operating at an impressive volume of 22 decibels (dB), quieter than most modern refrigerators. In contrast to industrial competitors from Tesla and Figure AI that are focusing on factory applications for the moment, 1X has engineered NEO Home Robot specifically for home environments where safety and quiet operation are a must.
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AI-Powered Learning and Capabilities
Though the NEO Home Robot comes with a range of pre-programmed abilities, including folding laundry, organizing shelves, and fetching items, the real innovation is its capacity to continually learn. The weird part is that owners can use “Expert Mode” to schedule remote assistance sessions with 1X experts who can walk the robot through new or unfamiliar tasks, effectively teaching it new skills.
In addition, the robot has an onboard large language model (LLM), which allows it to have natural conversational exchanges with contextual understanding, allowing it to recognize ingredients on a counter and suggest recipes or recall previous conversations to provide personalized help.
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Technological Innovation and Market Development
The NEO Home Robot represents a major hardware advancement featuring the patented “1X tendon-drive system” that creates soft, compliant movements for greater safety around people and sensitive home environments. Furthermore, the robot has 22 degrees of freedom in its hands, creating human-level dexterity for handling everyday items. Nevertheless, the NEO Home Robot is entering a market that is projected to reach $400 billion within the next ten years and is focused on consumers looking to automate household chores in a world of labor shortage and busy lifestyles.
Key Features and Benefits
- Whisper-Quiet Operation: At 22dB, it’s quieter than most household appliances
- Voice Control: Natural language processing for intuitive interaction
- Continuous Learning: Improves through software updates and expert guidance
- Advanced Dexterity: 22 degrees of freedom in hands for human-like manipulation
- Safety-First Design: Soft body construction and compliant movements
- Built-in Communication: NEO is a full entertainment system, with WiFi, 5G, Bluetooth, and speakers
- Home Integration: Neutral colors and minimalist design to complement living spaces
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Accessibility and Future Vision
Although the NEO Home Robot is priced at a considerable $20,000 (or $499 monthly subscription), 1X aims to make humanoid robotics accessible to consumers rather than keeping the technology confined to research labs. The company is targeting 2026 to make the first deliveries in the U.S. before transitioning to international markets in 2027. As CEO, Bernt Børnich stated, this launch represents the moment “humanoid robots become a product” that ordinary people can actually interact with in their daily lives.
FAQs
How does the 1X NEO Home Robot learn new tasks?
The 1X NEO Home Robot learns new tasks through “Expert Mode,” where 1X employees can remotely guide the robot through unfamiliar chores while the owner just watches, effectively teaching NEO new skills through demonstration rather than traditional programming.
What makes NEO different from other humanoid robots?
Different from industrial robots from companies like Tesla or Figure AI, NEO is specifically designed for home use with emphasis on quiet operation (22dB), safety through soft-body construction, and tasks relevant to household chores rather than factory work.
When will NEO be available to consumers?
First deliveries are scheduled for 2026, starting in the United States with international expansion planned for 2027. Customers can currently pre-order through 1X’s website with a $200 deposit.
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