The first robot housekeeper for the domestic market has arrived in the United States, with AI and robotics company 1X offering its humanoid robot NEO for pre-order. A deposit of $200 secures a unit, with delivery expected in 2026, while the full purchase price is $20,000. Alternatively, customers can opt for a rental plan at $499 per month with a minimum six-month subscription.
NEO is designed to perform basic household tasks autonomously, including laundry and cleaning, as well as opening doors and operating lights. However, early units will rely heavily on remote human teleoperators, who may access the robot's camera eyes to see inside the user's home. Owners control this access through an app, and the data collected will help NEO learn to perform tasks independently over time.
Privacy safeguards include blurring people's faces, setting no-go zones, and requiring owner approval for remote control. CEO Bernt Børnich emphasised that multiple security layers prevent the 5-foot-6 inch, 66-pound robot—capable of lifting 150 pounds—from causing harm. He described the social contract as essential for improvement, stating, "If we don't have your data, we can't make the product better."
NEO is available in tan, grey, or dark brown and wears a sweater-like jumpsuit, distinguishing it from industrial robots. Børnich explained the design choice as a combination of safety and aesthetics, noting that an actual skin would be "pretty creepy." Social media reactions have been mixed, with some expressing excitement and others drawing comparisons to science fiction tales of rogue robots.
