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ZDNET Highlights
- 1X’s viral neo humanoid robot isn’t as cool as it looks.
- Neo costs $500 per month or $20,000 upfront.
- The robot must be controlled by a human being.
A new humanoid robot is making waves online, but even with a $20,000 price tag, it may not be exactly what it seems.
In 10 minute video posted on X1X introduced Neo, a housekeeping humanoid robot that handles everyday tasks like loading the dishwasher, vacuuming the floors, and doing laundry. As 1X describes it, robots can “provide assistance with everyday tasks…automate household chores, freeing up time for priorities” and even “bring useful insights to every interaction.”
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1X claims you can schedule chores to happen at a specific time of day and the robot, which has a 4-hour runtime, is quieter than a refrigerator and can even dip its hands in water.
The video, which was truly impressive, quickly went viral.
However, details quickly began to emerge, including one Insightful review from the Wall Street Journal This suggests that this robot may be much less “humanoid” than it appears in the video. It turns out that the robot still needs to be controlled by a human – a “1X expert” – wearing a VR headset.
1X states that the employees operating the robots are based in the US, and purchasing the robot involves a “social contract” that essentially gives permission to a stranger to access your home.
This may all be fine, but practical testing shows that the robot is not that great. According to a WSJ review, the Neo almost fell apart when turning off the dishwasher, took several minutes to fold a shirt, and had difficulty opening the refrigerator. The reviewer said he “didn’t see Neo do anything autonomously.”
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The company’s CEO said the robot will perform “most tasks autonomously” by 2026.
If you are still interested and do not object to the “social contract”, Two purchase options available – A standard $499 monthly subscription or a special $20,000 early-access one-time preorder that requires a $200 down payment.
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