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

California robotics company 1X has announced it is taking preorders for NEO, which they say is the “ world’s first consumer-ready humanoid robot .”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 .

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.”

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

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.

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

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.

1X is positioning NEO as the first consumer friendly humanoid robot available for preorder, reports Mashable, ahead of competitors like Tesla’s Optimus or XPeng’s Iron whose retail dates remain unclear.

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