Meet NEO, the world’s first humanoid robot by 1X. It’s changing the rules of our homes, led by artificial intelligence that makes it more efficient to manage household tasks. NEO was built to address a multitude of projects. This amazing advance in robotics will soon have a more general-purpose version for homes, going into wide release later this year.
NEO’s not your average robot, though. Far from being fully autonomous, operators can control its movements in real-time through the use of virtual reality (VR) headsets and sensors. This innovative approach enables NEO to learn from human interactions and adapt to various household environments, ultimately performing tasks autonomously. From watering plants to folding clothes and brewing coffee, NEO’s capabilities are far-ranging.
As the robot’s prowess for delicate operations is beyond impressive, it’s definitely one of the most touted features. NEO is capable of crunching socks and sweeping dining room tables set with delicate stemware. Its debut was not without mishaps. On its first try to wipe the table free, NEO broke a wine glass. This accident highlighted the difficulties of teaching robots to autonomously complete needle in the haystack precision jobs.
1X is still very excited about NEO and its potential. The company’s CEO, Bernt Børnich—which can be easily Googled—uses the robot in his own home, for chores like vacuuming and cleaning up under furniture. Tillemann is hopeful for the initiative’s future. He illustrated how data collection and analysis could do the heavy lifting and automate many of the tasks of the domestic sphere. All too often, it takes an intervening human hand.
“We have a lot of data so a lot of the stuff in my home can get automated but periodically someone kind of steps in and helps,” – Bernt Børnich
As 1X gets ready for the commercial launch, they’re working to make NEO at home a natural fit. This groundbreaking device will function autonomously based on a combination of human input and independent operation. This strategy aligns with broader trends in the robotics industry, where companies in Silicon Valley and China are racing to develop humanoid robots capable of performing everyday tasks.
The financial support from heavyweights like Nvidia has put 1X on solid footing in this fast-moving market. Venture capital investments in the humanoid robotics space are at an all-time high. Beyond creating robots that operate effectively, there’s a challenge to make them intuitive enough to move around household environments safely and autonomously.
Bipasha Sen sees a remote future where robots become key parts of our new normal and daily life. She stated, “Today people have two aspirations – a car and a house. In the future they’ll have three aspirations – a car and house and a robot.” This slogan further illustrates how mainstream society views robots as increasingly beneficial household helpers.
Beyond its practical applications, NEO’s development is an indicator of continuing progress in artificial intelligence (AI). The passionate creators at 1X are focused on increasing NEO’s generative AI potential. They put it out into actual households and understand how it interacts with human family members. Chelsea Finn, an artificial intelligence researcher and former NEO team member, remarked on the need to translate this intelligence into physical forms exemplified by NEO.
“We want to be able to breathe intelligence into any sort of physical embodiment, whether that’s a humanoid robot or even something that looks closer to an appliance,” – Chelsea Finn
As 1X gets ready to release NEO, its priority is to make everyday home tasks easier. Simultaneously, it hopes to change the way people engage with technology. As robots enter everyday life, society will need to adapt its expectations and norms towards assistive home robots.