NEO the first ‘consumer-ready humanoid robot’ will do your chores. But what about privacy?

NEO, a humanoid robot that can be both autonomous and operated remotely by a 1X company employee. Photo by 1X/YouTube

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The first shipments are expected to begin in 2026 for U.S. buyers and other regions starting in 2027. Priced at US$20,000, reports Fortune Magazine, customers must pay a US$200 deposit to secure priority delivery, while a subscription/rental option is also available at US$499 per month with a minimum six-month contract.

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The company has previously developed robots for industrial use, but NEO is its first product for the home. The robot has a set of modes, including chores, companion and autonomy. 1X says NEO is intended for household tasks such as folding laundry, organizing shelves, fetching items and watering plants.

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The machine can be controlled by its owner via a mobile app or through voice commands. NEO will then work autonomously, says the robotics firm.

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Among the tasks that the company says NEO can do are suggesting what to cook by looking at the contents of your refrigerator. It can also teach you a new language. Or tell you where you left your car keys.

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For more complicated tasks that the robot hasn’t been trained to do, there is an “expert mode” that will involve the intervention of a company employee “supervising” the session while the robot works, reports PC Magazine. That means a 1X employee based in the U.S. will be able to see inside your home while controlling the robot while in expert mode. That occurs through a Virtual Reality headset, The Wall Street Journal reports.

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The obvious trade-off is privacy. But CEO Bernt Børnich told the WSJ: “If you buy this product, it is because you’re OK with that social contract. If we don’t have your data, we can’t make the product better.”

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And the company notes, the robot’s “emotive ear-rings” will also change colour while an 1X Expert Operator is active, states PC Magazine.

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Meanwhile, the company can blur people inside your home, so a remote operator won’t see them. And owners can designate no-go zones in their homes where the operator cannot send the robot. Finally, teleoperators cannot take control of a NEO without the owner’s approval.

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NEO’s specifications are 5’6” in height and 66 lbs. It’s supposed to be able to operate for four hours on battery.

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A unit is covered by a soft 3D lattice polymer which comes in three colours: tan, grey, and dark brown. It also has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 5G capabilities, which paired with the NEO’s built-in speakers, enables users to utilize it as a sound system.

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