Inside NEO, the $20,000 humanoid robot promising to change your daily routine

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NEO is a $20,000 humanoid robot created by 1X Tech, a company specializing in general-purpose robots designed for domestic use. Standing 5’6” and weighing 66 pounds, NEO runs on Nvidia technology and is equipped with microphones, cameras, and speakers to help it navigate and assist with household tasks. The company says NEO works autonomously by default, but early testers, including The Wall Street Journal, found that much of its work is still controlled by humans, with representatives even needing to access the robot’s cameras to complete certain actions.  Tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) also questioned how close NEO is to delivering on its big promises of full independence and learning capabilities. While 1X says early units will need “some human oversight,” the company insists the robot will evolve over time. Still, with U.S. deliveries not expected until next year, many online are skeptical, asking questions about privacy, safety, and whether NEO’s $20,000 price tag is really worth the convenience.

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00:00The average person spends hours a week on chores, but NEO, a $20,000 humanoid robot,

00:05promises to change that. Let's take a look inside at the robot built to assist your everyday routine.

00:11NEO is a humanoid companion created by 1xTech, an AI and robotics company specializing in

00:17general-purpose humanoid robots for domestic use. Brent Bornick, CEO and founder of 1xTech,

00:23announced on October 28th that the new humanoids are finally available to order, stating,

00:27NEO is the first step on a journey towards a more abundant future, and we're excited for you to

00:32join us on this journey. According to the website, you can enjoy your very own NEO for $20,000 or

00:38through a $499 per month subscription. And if you're worried about space, NEO stands 5 feet 6 inches tall

00:45and weighs 66 pounds, built to be lightweight, quiet, and capable of handling everyday household tasks.

00:51Running on NVIDIA technology, the humanoid robot has 4-hour battery life, can carry up to 55 pounds,

00:56and lift up to 150 pounds. Plus, it's equipped with four microphones, three speakers, and fisheye

01:03cameras, so NEO can see, hear, and navigate your home, all while wearing a machine-washable knit suit

01:08and customizable shoes. But before you rush to add one of these new housekeepers to your shopping cart,

01:14the Wall Street Journal, which tested the robot early, notes, a company representative may need to

01:19peer into your house via NEO's camera eyes to get things done. And while Joanne Stern from

01:24the Wall Street Journal tested NEO's capabilities, like fetching a glass of water, the robot reportedly

01:29took over a minute to get water from a fridge 10 feet away, struggling the most with opening the door,

01:34and was notably being controlled by a human operator. Although the company notes that they may need to

01:39take control of the cameras to help NEO work inside your home, and the early tester videos we have seen

01:44show human operators, the website does state, quote, NEO works autonomously by default, meaning the

01:51humanoid will run on its own without needing a continuous human operator. But tech YouTuber

01:56Marquis Brownlee, also known as MKBHD, seemed to be a tough critic when sharing his thoughts on the

02:02new robot. Brownlee's main issue was the gap between NEO's current capabilities and its promised

02:08built-in artificial intelligence, which is supposed to recognize objects, navigate your home on its own,

02:14and be productive while you're away. Brownlee pointed to Joanne Stern's Wall Street Journal review

02:19to back his claims. And this was a demo set up by this One X company, so this is like best case

02:24scenario stuff. And while One X acknowledges that early units, quote, will require some human

02:29oversight, it stresses that NEO is designed to learn and evolve. Online, the internet isn't quite sure

02:35how to react to this new addition to everyday tasks. One X user wrote, thank you for improving

02:40our world and reducing suffering. My best friend has bad knees. Your robot will help him reduce his

02:45suffering immensely, along with tens of millions who are in the same boat, while others have asked

02:51questions about its security features or its ability to climb stairs. And some joked about a

02:56potential AI robot takeover. Marquis Brownlee also notes that although the robot is available for

03:02pre-order now, deliveries in the U.S. won't start until next year. So would you spend $20,000 to help

03:08train this robot to be the ultimate household companion? Share your thoughts and follow us everywhere

03:12at What's Trending.

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