1X NEO pre-orders open: humanoid home robot learns chores via teleoperation

California startup 1X is now accepting pre-orders for NEO, a humanoid robot designed to automate everyday household tasks and offer personalized assistance. The company says NEO will perform basic chores autonomously at launch — opening doors, fetching items and controlling lights — but more complex or tailored tasks will initially require remote human teleoperators to take control and train the AI.

Pricing and availability are aimed at early adopters: a $200 deposit secures preorder access, with an early purchase price of about $20,000. 1X also offers a subscription option at $499/month. The company expects deliveries to begin next year, while the AI continues to learn from teleoperated sessions.

Human‑in‑the‑loop training and privacy

1X CEO Bernt Børnich told WSJ that teleoperators will need to see inside customers’ homes via the robot’s cameras to teach NEO how to complete specific tasks. 1X says it will give owners control over teleoperation sessions: users can schedule when teleoperators may take over, set no‑go zones, and enable automated blurring of people to reduce exposure. Teleoperators cannot assume control without the owner’s approval.

Concerns and trade‑offs

• Privacy: allowing remote humans to view private spaces raises obvious privacy and surveillance concerns, even with blurring and no‑go zone tools.
• Security: teleoperation channels and robot systems must be secured to prevent unauthorized access or data leaks.
• Ethics & consent: continuous data collection for training requires clear consent and strong data governance — buyers should understand how footage is stored, who can access it, and for how long.
• Value proposition: early buyers get advanced functionality sooner, but at the cost of human‑in‑the‑loop assistance and a high price point or ongoing subscription fees.

What 1X offers to mitigate risks

1X says owners retain control over teleoperation sessions, can blur people in view, and designate restricted areas. The company also claims multiple security layers to prevent harm. Still, the effectiveness of these measures will depend on implementation and independent audits.

If you want to see NEO in action, the Wall Street Journal’s video coverage offers demonstrations of the robot’s capabilities and teleoperation workflow: WSJ video. For preorders and official specs, visit 1X’s website (preorder info is available on the company site).

Discussion: Would you pre‑order NEO or subscribe to a home robot that uses teleoperators to learn — or does the privacy trade‑off put you off? What safeguards would you require before inviting a robot (and remote humans) into your home?