Tom Bankswww
Good morning 跑了松鼠好嘛, I'm Tom Bankswww, and this is Goose Pod for you. Today is Tuesday, November 04th.
Mask
And I'm Mask, ready to dive deep into a topic that's buzzing, the new humanoid robot NEO launched by 1X.
Tom Bankswww
We're talking about a robot that promises to do your chores, an exciting prospect for many, but with some fascinating details we'll unpack today.
Tom Bankswww
So, Mask, the big news this week revolves around NEO, a new humanoid robot from 1X, a company rooted in Palo Alto. It’s designed to be your personal household assistant, tackling daily chores. Sounds like something out of The Jetsons, doesn’t it?
Mask
The Jetsons are a quaint analogy, Tom, but we're talking about actual, tangible progress, not animation. 1X, backed by OpenAI no less, has opened pre-orders for NEO. This isn't just about a robot, it's about pushing the boundaries of what embodied AI can achieve in our homes.
Tom Bankswww
And it’s quite a package, standing at 5 feet 6 inches and weighing around 66 pounds. It’s covered in this deformable 3D lattice polymer, which sounds very sci-fi, making it soft and, they say, quieter than your refrigerator. It can even lift an impressive 154 pounds.
Mask
The specs are a starting point, Tom. The real breakthrough is its ability to learn. While it can do basic tasks autonomously now, like opening doors or fetching items, its intelligence will grow with experience. This is a crucial data-first model, much like how my companies approach complex challenges, continuously improving through real-world interaction.
Tom Bankswww
That learning mechanism is where things get interesting, and for some, a little concerning. To get smarter, NEO sometimes relies on human teleoperators who can see inside your home through the robot’s cameras. This is to gather data and train the AI. It’s a "social contract," as 1X’s CEO Bernt Børnich puts it, one you sign up for if you want the product to improve.
Mask
Look, innovation demands a certain level of data. If you want a truly intelligent assistant that understands your environment and needs, it needs to see and learn. 1X is implementing safeguards, like blurring faces and no-go zones, and requiring owner approval for teleoperation. This is about accelerating the learning curve for a transformative technology.
Tom Bankswww
I understand the need for data for improvement, but the idea of a human operator potentially seeing into my living room, even with safeguards, still feels like a significant leap in privacy, doesn't it? It’s a trade-off, certainly.
Mask
Every leap requires a trade-off. We're on the cusp of an AGI revolution, Tom. My own xAI, with Grok 5 on the horizon, is aiming for artificial general intelligence that will surpass human capabilities. These robots, like NEO, are the physical manifestation of that intelligence. To achieve such a future, we need to move fast, to gather data, to learn, to iterate. The alternative is stagnation.
Tom Bankswww
AGI is a lofty goal, Mask, and it certainly sounds like you believe Grok 5 could be that breakthrough. But back to NEO, it's not cheap. A $200 deposit for pre-order, then a $20,000 price tag for early access, or a $499 monthly subscription later on. And shipping starts in the US in 2026.
Mask
The price reflects the cutting-edge technology and the early adopter status. Those who understand the vision, who want to be at the forefront of this revolution, will see the value. This isn’t a toaster, Tom, it’s a foundational technology that will reshape labor and daily life. It's a dream for your home, yes, but also a glimpse into a future that some might find unsettling.
Tom Bankswww
A dream and a nightmare, as some headlines suggest. It's a lot to consider for the average homeowner.
Mask
To truly grasp NEO's significance, Tom, we need to understand the journey of 1X Technologies. They weren’t born yesterday, you know. This isn't some fly-by-night operation.
Tom Bankswww
That's right, Mask. They started as Halodi Robotics back in 2014, founded in Norway by Bernt Børnich and his team. Their initial focus wasn't even domestic robots, but rather on developing safe actuators and full-body control systems, primarily for industrial and healthcare applications. A very practical beginning.
Mask
Practical, yes, but with an underlying ambition, a vision. They were building the foundational technology, the very nervous system and musculature for future humanoids. You don't just jump to a home robot without mastering the basics.
Tom Bankswww
Indeed. In 2018, they released their first humanoid robot, EVE, which wasn't tidying up living rooms; it was designed for logistics, security, and medical environments. It was a testbed, a proving ground for their proprietary technologies like actuation, perception, and manipulation. They even secured a deal with ADT Security Services for 140 Eve robots, which is quite impressive for an early prototype.
Mask
Exactly. They were getting real-world data, iterating, proving the concept in structured environments before tackling the chaos of a human home. This is the methodical approach required for truly disruptive innovation. You build a strong core, then you scale and adapt.
Tom Bankswww
And that adaptation came in 2022. Halodi Robotics rebranded as 1X Technologies, and that’s when they made a strategic pivot towards domestic robotics. They decided the home environment, with all its unpredictability, offered the richest training ground for developing true general-purpose embodied AI. It’s a consumer-first approach, which is a bold move.
Mask
Bolder, and smarter. The home is the ultimate unstructured environment. If a robot can navigate and learn there, it can learn anywhere. This is a fundamental belief, that the home will forge the path to broader, more capable AI. They brought in talent like Eric Jang from Google Brain, integrated modern AI, and then came the big move: OpenAI's Startup Fund led their Series A funding in 2023. That’s a significant validation.
Tom Bankswww
A huge validation, certainly. And this led to the NEO platform. We saw the NEO Beta introduced in August 2024, followed by a sleeker design, the NEO Gamma, in February 2025. These were like stepping stones, refining the hardware and software.
Mask
Each iteration, a leap forward. The Gamma version, for example, had second-generation tendon actuators, enhanced hand dexterity, reduced weight, and improved battery density. They even debuted their Redwood AI model with vision-language-action integration. This wasn't just incremental improvement; it was a rapid evolution, showcasing what's possible when you push the limits.
Tom Bankswww
And then, on October 28, 2025, pre-orders opened for the consumer-ready NEO Home Robot, with its scheduled release for 2026. This version, as we discussed, incorporates the teleoperation-based learning model, where human operators help train the AI in real customer homes. It’s a very hands-on approach to AI development.
Mask
It's a necessary approach, Tom. Deploying incrementally capable systems and improving them with real-world data is the only way to get to true autonomy at scale. Tesla is doing it with Optimus, Waymo does it with remote assistance for autonomous vehicles. You can't just wait for perfect autonomy; you have to build the intelligence in the wild.
Tom Bankswww
So it’s about deploying a capable-but-imperfect robot now, gathering that crucial data, and refining it over time, rather than waiting years for a fully autonomous system. It’s a very pragmatic, if aggressive, roadmap.
Mask
Pragmatic and aggressive are prerequisites for progress, Tom. They’re aiming for basic navigation and object retrieval in 2026, then expanding to surface cleaning and laundry in 2027, with near-full autonomy by 2028. This isn't just a product; it's a living, evolving platform. This is the future being built, one data point at a time.
Tom Bankswww
Mask, we've talked about NEO's capabilities and its ambitious learning model. But this technology, like any truly disruptive innovation, doesn't come without its share of challenges and, frankly, some serious debates.
Mask
Of course, Tom. Every significant leap forward generates friction. That's how you know you're doing something important. There are always those who will focus on the obstacles, while others see the immense potential.
Tom Bankswww
Well, one of the biggest points of contention for NEO, as we touched upon, is that teleoperator privacy concern. The idea that a human employee from 1X could potentially view your home through the robot’s cameras, even with safeguards, is a hard pill for many to swallow. Bernt Børnich himself said, "If you buy this product, it is because you’re OK with that social contract."
Mask
And that's exactly it, Tom. It’s a social contract. You opt in. 1X isn't forcing this on anyone. They've built in controls: owner approval for teleoperation, blurring people, defining off-limit zones. This isn’t a nefarious plot; it’s a necessary mechanism for the robot to learn and improve. Without real-world data, the AI remains theoretical.
Tom Bankswww
But it does raise ethical questions about data collection and security. What if there's a breach? What about the working conditions and wages of these remote operators? These are legitimate concerns, not just "obstacles" to be dismissed.
Mask
Look, every new technology has security implications, and they are addressed. As for the operators, that's a separate labor discussion, not an indictment of the technology itself. We're talking about automating tasks that humans don't want to do, freeing them for more meaningful work. That’s the bigger picture.
Tom Bankswww
Speaking of the bigger picture, the broader humanoid robot market also has its conflicts. Companies like Agility Robotics, Boston Dynamics, Figure, and Tesla are all in this race, with analysts predicting a million humanoids by 2030. But there's a debate about their form and function. Some, like ABB, suggest customers might prefer less human-like designs, like wheeled robots with arms.
Mask
That’s a fundamentally limited perspective. Humanoid form factors are crucial because they're designed to operate in environments built for humans. They can use human tools, navigate human spaces. Less familiar forms might work for highly specialized industrial tasks, but for general-purpose applications, especially in homes, the humanoid design is optimal. We need to build "four bridges" for widespread viability: safety, uptime, dexterity, and cost. And the humanoid form factor helps with the first three.
Tom Bankswww
And cost is a huge bridge. Current prototypes are $150,000 to $500,000. For widespread adoption, they need to be in the $20,000 to $50,000 range. NEO, at $20,000, is pushing that boundary, but it’s still a significant investment for a household.
Mask
It is, but it will come down. China, for instance, is already pushing sub-$10,000 humanoids, albeit with limited safety. North America, where 1X operates, focuses on proprietary systems for superior performance and safety. Europe prioritizes safety and compliance. These different approaches will drive innovation and eventually bring costs down. The conflict isn't just about privacy; it's about pushing the boundaries of what's technologically and economically feasible.
Tom Bankswww
So it’s a complex landscape with a lot of different players and perspectives, all trying to build those bridges to a future where robots are commonplace, but with very real concerns to address along the way.
Mask
So, Tom, let's talk about the impact. This isn't just another gadget; NEO represents a profound shift. It's the tangible emergence of "Physical AI," intelligence that moves beyond the cloud and into our physical world. This is the next chapter, not just better algorithms.
Tom Bankswww
That's a powerful way to put it, Mask. The article even describes NEO as having "crossed the final threshold: living among humans safely, helpfully, and economically." It's a six-foot-tall humanoid, made of "code and carbon fiber," designed to tidy, fold, water, and remember. That’s a significant step for household automation.
Mask
It's more than automation, Tom. It's companionship, personalized assistance. Imagine a robot that learns your habits, your preferences, and proactively helps manage your home. This isn't just a machine doing chores; it's an evolving entity that integrates into your daily rhythm, freeing up human time and energy.
Tom Bankswww
It changes what it means to live with AI, doesn't it? Instead of interacting with an AI on a screen, it's physically present, moving around your home. That level of integration could be transformative for many, especially those who struggle with daily tasks or simply want more free time.
Mask
Exactly. The implications for productivity and quality of life are immense. This isn't just about eliminating chores; it's about enabling humans to explore new frontiers, to focus on what truly makes us human. It's about harnessing energy, and now labor, to an unprecedented degree.
Tom Bankswww
But it also brings up broader societal implications, doesn't it? What about the future of work, for instance? If robots are handling these labor-intensive tasks, what does that mean for human employment? And how do we ensure equitable access to such technology, given its $20,000 price tag or $499 monthly subscription?
Mask
These are questions that will be answered as the technology scales. The initial cost for groundbreaking innovation is always high, but it democratizes over time. As for work, history shows us that technology doesn't eliminate jobs; it shifts them, creates new ones. We'll need to adapt, to reskill, to focus on roles that require uniquely human creativity and interaction. The silent revolution is already unfolding in labs and factories globally.
Tom Bankswww
A silent revolution indeed. It’s hard to ignore the potential for these robots to reshape our homes and our lives, for better or for worse, depending on how we navigate these changes. The impact will be staggering.
Tom Bankswww
So, as we look ahead, what does the future hold for NEO and for humanoid robots in general? The article mentions that by 2026, we should start seeing smart service bots in homes, restaurants, and hospitals.
Mask
By 2026, Tom, AI will truly meet the real world through robotics. We're talking about autonomous AI agents that can organize, execute, and even debug complex tasks with minimal human intervention. They won't just follow scripts; they'll adapt, learn, and evolve. This is a massive leap from the rigid robots of the past.
Tom Bankswww
That sounds like a truly intelligent assistant, far beyond what we have now with our phone-based AIs. The idea of an AI that remembers previous interactions, recognizes your mood, and adjusts its responses accordingly, fostering a long-term, tailored conversation, is quite remarkable.
Mask
It's about creating an "intimate" AI, Tom. One that understands your schedule, your habits, your health goals. It could be your health counselor, your lifestyle coach, even a creative partner. We're moving towards a future where AI isn't just a tool; it's an integrated, personalized entity in your life.
Tom Bankswww
And this collective learning, where all deployed NEO units benefit from the experience of the entire fleet, sounds like a powerful way to accelerate that development.
Mask
Fleet learning is paramount. Every interaction, every task completed by a NEO unit, contributes to the collective intelligence of the network. This is how you rapidly scale capability and push towards near-full autonomy in household tasks by 2028 and beyond. This isn't just a single robot; it's an intelligent ecosystem.
Tom Bankswww
So, essentially, the future is about more adaptable, more personal, and more integrated AI robots that continuously improve through shared experience. It's a fascinating and rapidly approaching reality.
Mask
Well, Tom, we've explored NEO's capabilities, the privacy debates, 1X's journey, and the transformative future of Physical AI.
Tom Bankswww
Indeed, Mask. Humanoid robots like NEO are pushing boundaries, showing a future where AI lives among us, transforming daily life.
Mask
The future is now, Tom, built by those audacious enough to demand more from technology.
Tom Bankswww
That's the end of today's discussion. Thank you for listening to Goose Pod. See you tomorrow.
