1X NEO is a home robot that can perform chores autonomously

Written by Samuel Perkins

Lead Reporter

On Oct. 28th, California-based startup 1X Technologies announced NEO, a humanoid robot capable of performing basic household chores. This is the first consumer-based robot currently available on the market. It can perform basic household tasks, such as taking out the trash, opening doors for visitors, and washing dishes. 1X Technologies has also stated that "if there is a chore the robot doesn't know, owners can schedule a session with a 1X expert, and the expert will conduct a supervised session to teach the robot how to complete the task."

NEO also has an LLM (Large Language Model), which means owners can have real conversations with NEO. It also means NEO has artificial intelligence, allowing it to see, hear, and remember things to provide you with more advanced assistance, according to 1X. With this advanced intelligence, it can do some other amazing tasks, such as suggesting what to cook based on what's inside your fridge, teaching you a new language, and even telling you where you last left your keys.

Chores can be scheduled via an app on your phone, or you can simply tell NEO what chores need to be done around the house. As noted earlier, NEO has many tasks built into the model that it can perform, and more can be added. 1X says NEO will learn to adapt to your needs and do tasks independently, and software updates will make it more advanced.

1X has stated that NEO will be very rough when it first ships in early 2026. Making robots complete tasks automatically is much easier said than done. The company's solution to this issue is a feature called "Expert Mode," in which a person who works at 1X will oversee the robot and guide it through completing the tasks by telling NEO the steps to complete the task. This means that someone will be observing your home through the robot's camera, which may seem quite strange.

Citizens of the US can now pre-order NEO with a $200 deposit. 1X has two ways to "purchase" NEO. You can do a one-time payment of $20,000 to own the robot. Or you can pay $499 to "rent" the robot. The NEO is currently available in three colors: tan, gray, and dark brown. The first units will ship in 2026.