Nvidia-powered humanoid robot NEO hits homes next year, revolutionizing home chores

A new robot helper is coming to American homes next year, and it can do everyday tasks like loading the dishwasher and folding laundry. According to testing done by The Wall Street Journal, the five-and-a-half-foot-tall NEO robot successfully completed basic household activities, though it still needs human assistance for many functions. The robot moved carefully to the dishwasher, opened it, and placed utensils in the proper spots before wiping down kitchen counters.

The Wall Street Journal reporters found that NEO also handled clothing and retrieved items from the refrigerator during demonstrations. The machine looks like something from science fiction movies, but performs real household work.

Pricing and how NEO works in the home

The robot became available for purchase on Tuesday, Oct. 28, created by 1X, a robotics company located in Palo Alto, California, as reported by USA Today. Buyers can either purchase NEO outright for $20,000 or try a monthly subscription plan costing $499. USA Today explained that the robot weighs sixty-six pounds and runs on Nvidia technology with a four-hour battery life.

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Owners can tell NEO what to do by speaking to it or using a phone application to schedule cleaning tasks. The company offers expert training sessions where 1X specialists will remotely control your Neo to teach it new tasks it has not learned yet, according to USA Today's coverage of the product launch.

What NEO can and cannot do right now

New Atlas reports that NEO can climb stairs, charge itself when the battery runs low, and answer questions about things it sees in your home. The robot will initially need remote human operators from 1X to guide it through difficult tasks using what the company calls Expert Mode, meaning someone will see through the robot's cameras into your house. 

New Atlas noted that early testing showed Neo was slow and uncertain when performing tasks without human control. The robot should improve over time through software updates, but New Atlas emphasized that first buyers must accept sharing home data with the company to help develop better capabilities.