NORWAY – In a leap that feels straight out of science fiction, 1X Technologies has unveiled Neo, a humanoid robot poised to transform households worldwide into smarter, more efficient sanctuaries. Standing at 5’6″ and weighing just 66 pounds, Neo isn’t your clunky factory bot; it’s a sleek, soft-bodied companion designed for seamless integration into family life, handling chores with grace while cracking a joke or two. With early access units available for a $200 deposit, full purchase at $20,000, or a $499 monthly subscription, and production ramping up for a 2026 launch prioritizing early depositors and purchasers over subscribers, Neo heralds an era where AI doesn’t just assist; it anticipates, learns, and lightens the load—freeing parents for playtime and professionals for pursuits that matter. For conservative families valuing self-reliance and innovation without overreach, Neo embodies the promise of technology as a true partner, not a replacement. Stay tuned as more details emerge—this is very interesting.
The reveal video, a mesmerizing 1:28 clip that’s already garnered over 500,000 views since dropping on September 13, 2024, paints Neo as more butler than machine. Kicking off with a serene home scene, we see Neo gliding effortlessly across a living room, its tendon-driven limbs mimicking human fluidity as it approaches a user with a casual “Hey, need a hand?” By 0:15, it’s folding laundry with pinpoint precision, arms extending to 18 lbs payload while its built-in LLM processes natural voice commands like “Fold the shirts neatly.” The demo peaks at 0:45 with Neo sharing a quip—”Why don’t skeletons fight each other? They don’t have the guts!”—before self-docking to charge, ear rings glowing a cheerful blue to signal “all good.” The tone? Optimistic and approachable, underscoring 1X’s mantra: “Robots for the home, by humans for humans.”
At its core, Neo is a marvel of thoughtful design. Crafted with a soft, machine-washable nylon suit over a custom 3D lattice polymer body, it’s pinch-proof and HIC-rated under 250—safer than a hug from your toddler. Powered by the 1X NEO Cortex (Nvidia Jetson Thor), it boasts 2,070 FP4 TFLOPS of AI compute, dual 8.85MP fisheye cameras for 360-degree vision, and four beamforming mics for crystal-clear conversation. Standing 5’6″ tall with 22 degrees of freedom per hand and tendon actuators for 95% backdrivability, Neo navigates at 6.2 m/s running speed or a leisurely 1.4 m/s walk, lifting 154 lbs or carrying 55 lbs without breaking a sweat—or making a sound (just 22 dB, quieter than a fridge). Its 842 Wh battery lasts four hours, with a quick-charge trick recharging one hour of use in six minutes.
Capabilities steal the show. Neo’s Redwood AI—a generalist model—learns tasks on the fly: Putting away dishes, walking to fetch a remote, or automating schedules like “Vacuum after dinner.” For trickier stuff, “Expert Mode” lets a remote 1X pro supervise via app or VR, teaching Neo new tricks like sorting recyclables. Companion mode shines: Built-in LLM chats naturally, remembers preferences (“You like your coffee black”), and entertains with contextual humor or stories. Visual and audio intelligence adds magic—spotting a spilled toy and quipping, “Looks like we have a gravity test gone wrong!”—while emotive ear rings signal status (green for ready, yellow for charging). Plus, it’s a Bluetooth boombox for home tunes, and IP68/IP44-rated for splash-proof adventures.
1X, founded in 2022 by ex-OpenAI exec Bernt Østergaard, aims to deploy Neo in homes by late 2025, starting with beta testers in Norway and the U.S. Priced around $30,000 (per early estimates), it’s not cheap, but subscriptions for AI updates and remote expertise keep it evolving. Future plans? Full autonomy by 2027, with expansions into elder care and small-business assistance—partnering with giants like Amazon for e-commerce integration.
For conservative households, Neo aligns with values of efficiency and family focus: Automating drudgery without displacing jobs, reclaiming time for what counts—dinner table discussions or backyard barbecues. As Østergaard told Wired, “Neo isn’t replacing us; it’s amplifying humanity.” In a world of AI hype, Neo delivers heart with horsepower.
Watch the reveal video here and preorder via 1X’s site— the future’s knocking, and it’s polite enough to charge itself.
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Elena Vasquez
Lead Editor, VNN
