1X Technologies has begun accepting pre-orders for its anthropomorphic assistant NEO. Designed to assist in residential environments, the robot can clean, do laundry, carry groceries, and hold conversations thanks to its built-in language model. However, as The Wall Street Journal notes, the key feature of this device is the need for constant human supervision.

The main drawback of the commercially available NEO is that to perform complex tasks, it must be operated manually by a human through a virtual reality (VR) headset. A specialist remotely controls the robot’s actions, which calls into question its full autonomy.

The first units are expected to be shipped to U.S. customers during 2026. The robot costs $20,000 for a one-time purchase or $499 per month under a subscription plan.

NEO weighs only 30 kilograms and stands 168 centimeters tall. Engineers have ensured its safety by enclosing its mechanical structure in a soft polymer frame. It can move at speeds of up to 12 km/h thanks to the Tendon Drive artificial tendon system, while its noise level remains as low as 22 decibels.

With arms offering 22 degrees of freedom and a lifting capacity of up to 70 kilograms, NEO can handle even fragile objects with precision. Its battery provides up to four hours of autonomous operation, and recharging for one hour of use takes just six minutes. The entire system is powered by the Nvidia Jetson Thor processor, running its own AI model, Redwood, which enables NEO to learn through repetition.

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