This $20K Robot Can Do Your Chores, But Has a Big Potential Privacy Trade-Off

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A Palo Alto company is taking preorders for a $20,000 humanoid home robot, but it might be a tad invasive for some people.

1X Technologies says Neo is the “world’s first consumer-ready humanoid robot designed to transform life at home.” The company published a 10-minute video about its 66-pound robot, which is designed to run for up to 4 hours on a single charge. It stands at 5 feet, 6 inches, can carry up to 55 pounds, and contains cameras that let you remotely view what it sees. 

(Credit: 1X Technologies )

The machine can be controlled via a mobile app or through voice commands. This includes being programmed to handle a variety of chores, such as watering the plants, unloading the dishwasher, or tidying up the house. 

However, it appears that the robot’s AI intelligence still requires improvement. For more complicated tasks the machine hasn’t been trained in, 1X built an “expert mode” for Neo that involves a company employee “supervising” the session while the robot works. 

This means a 1X employee in the US will be able to see inside your home to control the robot in expert mode, which occurs through a VR headset, The Wall Street Journal reports. The obvious trade-off is privacy. But CEO Bernt Børnich says, “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.” 

In an FAQ, 1X also noted that “owners have to actively schedule a time for an Expert to support with their chores and accept them into their robot using voice or mobile.” 

The robot’s “emotive ear rings” will also change color while a 1X Expert Operator is active. “Owners have full control over each session,” the company adds. 

(Credit: 1X)

Still, paying a human housekeeper might be cheaper, more effective, and less invasive. The Journal reports that Neo sometimes falls over, making it a potential danger to children or pets. In a demo at the company’s headquarters, the Journal also “didn’t see Neo do anything autonomously, although the company did share a video of Neo opening a door on its own.”

1X Technologies is also offering the bot at $499 per month as a subscription. The company expects to kick off US deliveries sometime next year before expanding to other markets in 2027.

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About Our Expert

Michael Kan

Senior Reporter

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I’ve been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I’m currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country’s technology sector.

Since 2020, I’ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I’ve combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink’s cellular service.

I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. Earlier this year, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.

I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I’m now following how President Trump’s tariffs will affect the industry. I’m always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.

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