1X Launches NEO — $20,000 Home Robot Controlled by Teleoperators
The robotics company 1X has officially opened preorders for its NEO home robot — a humanoid assistant priced at $20,000 or $499 per month via subscription. Mass production and deliveries are expected to begin next year, marking a new phase in affordable domestic robotics.
A household robot designed for real environments
NEO is a multipurpose robot developed by 1X Corporation, known for its research into embodied artificial intelligence. The device is designed to perform daily household tasks such as opening doors, turning lights on and off, carrying objects, and interacting with smart appliances.
Users can control the robot using buttons, voice commands, or the companion mobile app. For more complex operations — such as cleaning specific areas or organizing items — the robot connects to a remote teleoperator who can control it in real time.
Teleoperation: the human-in-the-loop approach
1X’s innovation lies in combining AI autonomy with human teleoperation. When NEO encounters unfamiliar situations, it can request remote assistance from trained operators who navigate tasks through cameras and sensors. These sessions also help NEO’s AI learn from human behavior, improving its autonomous capabilities over time.
The company emphasizes that such learning requires access to real-world data, and thus, users must consent to limited video monitoring during teleoperation sessions. According to 1X CEO Bernt Ørnhjeld Børnich, this data is crucial for teaching robots to function safely in real homes.
Privacy and control for owners
Buyers will be able to restrict teleoperator access by defining time windows and excluding sensitive zones — such as bedrooms or offices — using the robot’s digital map. 1X claims that all video feeds are encrypted and accessible only to certified operators.
Despite concerns from privacy advocates, the company insists its protocols comply with strict data-protection standards, offering transparency reports and manual overrides for users at any time.
Technical overview and subscription model
Each NEO robot comes equipped with AI-driven vision systems, multiple cameras, tactile sensors, and articulated limbs that mimic human dexterity. The robot operates for several hours on a single charge and can return autonomously to its charging dock.
The pricing model offers flexibility: customers can purchase NEO outright for $20,000 or subscribe for $499 per month, which includes maintenance, software updates, and teleoperation support. The company expects this model to accelerate adoption among early tech enthusiasts and small businesses.
The growing market for personal robotics
The launch of NEO places 1X alongside a new generation of humanoid robot developers, including Tesla’s Optimus, Figure AI, and Agility Robotics. Unlike industrial robots, these systems are designed for direct human interaction and personalized learning through cloud AI.
Analysts suggest that NEO’s relatively low price tag could make it the first commercially viable home robot for consumers, setting a precedent for how teleoperated AI may enter everyday life.
Conclusion
By merging autonomy, teleoperation, and continuous learning, 1X’s NEO represents a pragmatic vision of near-future robotics — one where AI doesn’t replace humans but learns from them.
Whether households will embrace the idea of a camera-equipped, cloud-connected robot remains to be seen. But for now, the promise of a $20,000 home assistant that evolves with its owner marks a pivotal step toward the age of personal robotics.
Editorial Team — CoinBotLab