California-based 1X Technologies has opened preorders for its robot assistant, Neo. The company says Neo will help consumers achieve a chore-free future.
A humanoid robot
Developers claim that Neo can perform routine household tasks, such as folding laundry, placing items on shelves, and cleaning rooms. The robot can be controlled by voice commands or an app, which lets users create to-do lists.
Neo stands about 170 centimeters tall and weighs just under 30 kilograms. It can operate for up to four hours on a single charge. Powered by built-in Redwood AI, Neo recognizes its owners’ faces, follows conversations, reminds them about appointments, and assists with scheduling or language learning.
Not yet autonomous
However, Neo is not yet fully autonomous. At launch, human operators will remotely control the robot. The company states that this is necessary for Neo’s AI to learn by observing humans and gradually perform tasks independently.
«Good morning. Your payment has been declined» pic.twitter.com/Kqj2TT49bZ
— dennis hegstad (@dennishegstad) October 29, 2025
Preorders cost $20,000. Buyers must also sign up for a monthly subscription with a minimum six-month commitment. Shipments are scheduled to begin in 2026.
Mouthless doll
Neo quickly went viral online, triggering memes and debate about its design. Many users mocked its mouthless, fabric-covered face, calling it a stuffed doll or an «empty mask.»
NEO EXPOSED @1x_tech 🤣 pic.twitter.com/oTRYME7uHH
— Optimus (@TeslaAIBot) October 30, 2025
Others criticized the company, speculating that remote operators will likely be low-wage workers from poorer countries.
The Neo bot looks just like the doll 9 pic.twitter.com/JvHa1cYeAt
— enhanced (@Cryonok) October 28, 2025
They compared the situation to an episode of «Black Mirror,» where an office worker controls a robot to clean homes of the wealthy.
