The dream of having a humanoid robot assist with chores at home is now closer to reality, with 1X Technologies introducing its new Neo Home Robot.
While the company’s humanoid robot promises to revolutionize home assistance, it comes at a steep price - and some potential privacy sacrifices.
Ready for preorder, the Neo Home Robot is being touted as "the world’s first consumer-ready humanoid robot designed to transform life at home."
But is it worth the investment?
Neo: A High-Tech, Human-Like Home Assistant
At 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighing 66 pounds, Neo is a sleek, humanoid robot designed to perform a variety of household tasks, per Forbes.
This includes everything from vacuuming and laundry to unloading the dishwasher.
Neo even has the ability to perform some more advanced tasks, like helping you find lost items - such as your glasses, which (spoiler alert) are hanging from your shirt, according to one launch video.
It’s equipped with four on-board microphones, three speakers, and advanced Redwood AI powered by Nvidia silicon.
The AI is custom-built to help Neo navigate and interact in your home environment, making it capable of tasks like opening doors and retrieving objects.
In addition to its AI capabilities, Neo's design has evolved since its earlier iterations, such as the Neo Beta, which was met with some criticism for its "creepy" appearance and overly “grabby” nature.
The Neo Home Robot, on the other hand, features a more approachable look with soft fabric covering, a gentle face, and even stylish sneakers.
But don’t let the soft exterior fool you - Neo is far from a toy. It’s built to assist you with a range of chores, and with the help of its proprietary AI, it can also learn new tasks.
However, while Neo can perform a variety of functions like cleaning and tidying up, it’s not perfect.
It’s still learning, and for tasks it isn’t yet equipped to handle, you may need to request help from a 1X employee via "expert mode."
This involves a human operator remotely taking control of Neo, allowing them to guide the robot through the task.
The Privacy Trade-Off: Expert Mode and Remote Surveillance
While Neo’s capabilities are impressive, they come with a significant trade-off.
In expert mode, a 1X employee can remotely access your home through the robot’s camera system, which allows them to guide it through more complicated tasks, per TechRadar.
As CEO Bernt Børnich candidly put it: "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."
Essentially, to improve Neo’s functionality, you’ll need to be comfortable with some level of data sharing, including giving a 1X employee access to your home via the robot’s cameras.
The company assures customers that they have full control over each session, and the robot's “emotive ear rings” will even change color when an operator is remotely controlling it.
Additionally, 1X clarifies that owners must actively schedule these expert sessions, and that personal data is not saved during the training process.
But still, the potential for privacy invasions may raise concerns for many.
Also, at a starting price of $20,000, Neo is not an affordable option for most households.
However, 1X Technologies is offering a subscription model for $499 per month, allowing customers to enjoy the robot’s assistance without the hefty upfront cost.
Though you can cancel the subscription at any time, the ongoing payments may add up to more than purchasing the robot outright in the long run.