It stands 5 ft, 6 inches tall, weighs about as a lot as a golden retriever and prices close to the worth of a brand-new price range automotive.
That is Neo, the humanoid robot. It is billed as a private assistant you possibly can discuss to and finally depend on to deal with on a regular basis duties, similar to loading the dishwasher and folding laundry.
Neo does not work low cost. It will value you $20,000. And even then, you may nonetheless have to coach this new residence bot.
If that sounds engaging, preorders at the moment are open (for a mere $200 down). You will be signing up as an early adopter for what Neo’s maker, a California-based firm known as 1X, is looking a “consumer-ready humanoid.” That is against different humanoids below growth from the likes of Tesla and Figure, that are, for the second not less than, extra targeted on manufacturing facility environments.
Neo is an entire order of magnitude completely different from robot vacuums like these from Roomba, Eufy and Ecovacs, and embodies a long-running sci-fi fantasy of robotic maids and butlers doing chores and selecting up after us. If that is the longer term, learn on for extra of what is in retailer.
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What the Neo robotic can do round the home
All for getting Neo on your residence? You’ll be able to choose from numerous colours that match your house decor finest.
The pitch from 1X is that Neo can do all method of family chores: fold laundry, run a vacuum, tidy cabinets, convey within the groceries. It will possibly open doorways, climb stairs and even act as a house leisure system.
Neo seems to maneuver easily, with a delicate, nearly human-like gait, because of 1X’s tendon-driven motor system that provides it mild movement and spectacular energy. The corporate says it might probably raise as much as 154 kilos and carry 55 kilos, however it’s quieter than a fridge. It is coated in delicate supplies and impartial colours, making it look much less intimidating than metallic prototypes from different corporations.
Watch this: A Humanoid Robotic Made for Your Dwelling
The corporate says Neo has a 4-hour runtime. Its palms are IP68-rated, which means they’re submersible in water. It will possibly join by way of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 5G. For dialog, it has a built-in LLM, the identical type of AI technology that powers ChatGPT and Gemini.
The first strategy to management the Neo robotic might be by talking to it, simply as if it have been an individual in your house.
Nonetheless, Neo’s usefulness immediately relies upon closely on the way you outline helpful. The Wall Avenue Journal’s Joanna Stern bought an up-close look at Neo at 1X’s headquarters and located that, not less than for now, it is largely teleoperated, which means a human typically operates it remotely utilizing a virtual-reality headset and controllers.
“I did not see Neo do something autonomously, though the corporate did share a video of Neo opening a door by itself,” Stern wrote.
1X CEO Bernt Børnich informed her that Neo will do most issues autonomously in 2026, although he additionally acknowledged that the standard “might lag at first.”
What you could learn about Neo and privateness
A part of what early adopters are signing up for is to let Neo be taught from their atmosphere in order that future variations can function extra independently.
That studying course of raises privateness and belief questions. The robotic makes use of a mixture of visible, audio and contextual intelligence — which means it might probably see, hear and bear in mind interactions with customers all through their properties.
“In the event you purchase this product, it’s since you’re OK with that social contract,” Børnich informed the Journal. “It is much less about Neo immediately doing all your chores and extra about you serving to Neo be taught to do them safely and successfully.”
Neo seems to be a bit of like a deflated Baymax from the film Massive Hero 6.
1X says it is taking steps to guard your privateness: Neo listens solely when it acknowledges it is being addressed, and its cameras will blur out people. You’ll be able to prohibit Neo from coming into or viewing particular areas of your house, and the robotic won’t ever be teleoperated with out proprietor approval, the corporate says.
However inviting an AI-equipped humanoid to watch your house life is not a small step.
The primary models will ship to prospects within the US in 2026. There’s a $499 month-to-month subscription various to the $20,000 full-purchase worth, although that might be obtainable at an unspecified later date. A broader worldwide rollout is promised for 2027.
Neo’s bought a protracted street forward of it to stay as much as the expectations set by Rosie the Robotic in The Jetsons means again when. However that is no Hanna-Barbera cartoon. What we’re seeing now’s a way more tangible harbinger of change.
