In recent years, artificial intelligence and robotics have begun a quiet transformation in our daily lives. At the forefront of this movement are humanoid robots built for household tasks, promising a future where machines are trusted companions at home.
Meet NEO: A New Kind of House Helper
Among these creations stands NEO, the humanoid robot from 1X Technologies. NEO is guided by Redwood AI, a powerful system that helps it understand and navigate the unique world of home living. Unlike machines built for factories, NEO is designed to move smoothly around kitchens, living rooms, and hallways, sensing and responding to its environment like a considerate assistant.
What NEO Can Do
NEO has been carefully built to handle a range of everyday chores, making routine life easier for its users. Here are some of the things NEO can do:
- Do the laundry: NEO sorts and washes clothes, turning laundry day into a simple task.
- Vacuum the house: It moves through rooms, keeping floors clean and inviting.
- Water the plants: Indoor plants get the care they need, even when life is busy.
- Make coffee: With careful hands, NEO helps brew your favorite beverage.
- Tidy up and fold clothes: Clutter is kept in check as NEO organizes and folds clothing.
- Carry heavy items: Able to lift up to 44 pounds, NEO helps with groceries or moving items around the home.
- Receive deliveries and open doors: From greeting deliveries to opening doors, NEO adds a layer of convenience and security.
How Redwood AI Guides NEO
Central to NEO’s abilities is Redwood AI, a vision and language system specially trained for life at home. Redwood is built to let NEO learn from experience. The AI model draws on large sets of data collected as previous robots learned tasks and faced real-world challenges. This learning allows NEO to recognize objects it’s never seen, choose the right hand for a job, and try different approaches if a task doesn’t succeed on the first attempt.
Redwood AI is also efficient. It operates on an embedded computer within the robot, so NEO can work without relying on distant servers. When you speak to NEO, a voice control system quickly understands your intent, connecting your words and context to the right actions.
Building Trust and Safety in the Home
For all its intelligence, NEO is designed first for safe companionship. Its surface is covered in soft, knit materials, and it moves with a gentle touch. Within its programming is a safety system: if NEO ever encounters something unfamiliar or challenging, it can call for remote human assistance. Human operators can then step in, guiding NEO through new situations until it learns the safest way forward. This partnership of AI learning and human oversight means greater safety and peace of mind.
Not Alone in the Field
NEO is part of a larger movement. Across the world, companies like Agility Robotics, Boston Dynamics, and Figure are advancing their own humanoid robots. While many focus on factories and industry, others—like Figure, whose Helix AI system is expected to enter home trials in the future—are also looking toward the household. The competition and collaboration among these innovators are driving rapid progress.
The Path Ahead
The emergence of robots like NEO marks a turning point in home automation. These machines are not just tools, but partners—quiet, adaptable, and responsive to the rhythms of life. As AI continues to advance, we may find ourselves welcoming more such helpers, capable not only of chores but of learning, understanding, and evolving alongside us.
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