An American robotics company, 1X Home Robots, has announced the launch of NEO, a humanoid robot designed to perform household chores. The company claims NEO is the first consumer-ready humanoid robot that can handle daily domestic tasks such as folding clothes, arranging shelves, and cleaning spaces.
AI-powered assistant for daily chores
The NEO robot runs on a large language model (LLM) — the same kind of AI technology used in conversational systems like ChatGPT. This allows it to understand voice commands, learn from users’ habits, and make suggestions such as meal ideas or event reminders.
According to 1X Home Robots, customers can also train NEO to carry out custom tasks. Each purchase includes setup assistance from a company technician who helps program specific chores based on user preference.
Connectivity and entertainment features
The robot includes WiFi, Bluetooth, and a three-stage speaker system, turning it into a portable entertainment device as well. 1X Home Robots says NEO is built to reduce the amount of time people spend on repetitive home tasks and make personal robots part of everyday living.
Privacy and human control concerns
Early tests suggest that the technology is still evolving. The Wall Street Journal reported that the robot may need remote human supervision to perform some chores. In certain cases, company staff could access the robot’s camera feed to assist with navigation and control.
The company’s CEO said that collecting user data is necessary to improve NEO’s performance over time. The robot is equipped with human-like hands, capable of lifting up to 68 kilograms and carrying 25 kilograms while moving.
Launch, pricing, and competition
The NEO robot will first be made available in the United States in 2026, followed by a global rollout in 2027. It will cost $20,000 (around ₹16.7 lakh) or can be leased for $499 per month.
The launch comes soon after Figure AI introduced its own humanoid assistant, Figure 03, earlier this month. Figure AI’s model, however, is not yet available for presale. Meanwhile, other smart domestic robots, such as the SwitchBot K20+ Pro, continue to advance in the non-humanoid category.
As companies push humanoid robots into homes, questions remain about privacy, human oversight, and trust ,raising the question: Would you let a robot become your housekeeper?