Would you pay €20,000 for a robot to clean your house? This is NEO, the first domestic robot.

Are we on the cusp of a new technological revolution in the home, or are we witnessing the birth of a fleeting luxury trend? The arrival of NEO , a friendly-looking humanoid robot with domestic capabilities, raises a question that goes beyond its price or features: are we ready to live with machines that not only obey us, but also observe us, remember us, and, little by little, learn to live alongside us?

Like something out of a futuristic Black Mirror episode, but with a friendlier, less apocalyptic interface, NEO has been presented as a humanoid personal assistant capable of cleaning your house, teaching you languages, remembering where you left your keys, and even suggesting recipes based on what's in your fridge. The difference now is that it's not just a promise, a prototype, or a viral video: NEO is available for pre-order. And that changes everything.

The company 1X Robotics, backed by investors like OpenAI, is behind NEO, which is already in the pre-sale phase . For the first time, anyone—for $20,000 or $499 a month—could own a human-like robot that, according to its creators, "will transform life at home."

NEO is the result of an ambitious project: bringing advanced robotics and artificial intelligence into the home. While Tesla is promising with Optimus and Figure AI is showing videos of its Figure 03 , 1X has decided to get ahead. And it has done so with a design that evokes both science fiction robots and a premium household appliance. It has a slim body, a washable polymer cover, customizable footwear, and moves smoothly thanks to its actuators with "tendons."

The Californian company has worked for years to achieve this balance between form and function. The goal: to create a robot capable of integrating into daily life without seeming like a threat or an awkward piece of furniture. The key lies in its gradual autonomy: NEO isn't born knowing everything, but is designed to learn. Like a technological child.

NEO is not just a robotic curiosity. According to its specifications, it can perform tasks such as taking out the trash, watering plants, folding laundry, and vacuuming. It uses computer vision with fisheye cameras, microphones, and an AI system called Redwood that allows it to interpret commands, recognize environments, and execute movements with precision.

Its operating modes include:

• Task mode : scheduled execution of household chores, controllable by voice or via app.
• Companion mode : virtual assistant function that remembers locations, suggests recipes, or helps with learning.
• Autonomous mode : gradual deployment of autonomy based on the experience accumulated by the robot.

In addition, users can request sessions with 1X experts to teach NEO new, specific tasks. This supervised training system suggests an "evolving robot" philosophy, where practical intelligence is built day by day.

Its body measures 1.68 meters, it weighs 30 kg, and it can lift up to 70 kg. It has four hours of battery life per charge and recharges itself. Although its hands are water-resistant, it is not suitable for humid environments, which limits its use outdoors or for tasks involving liquids.

NEO costs $20,000 outright, with deliveries expected in 2026, or it can be purchased on a subscription basis for $499 per month. The price includes premium support , a three-year warranty, and priority shipping. It comes in three colors: blue, beige, and black.

While the figure seems high for a household appliance, it can become more reasonable when compared to the accumulated cost of certain human assistance or professional cleaning services over several years. But the question isn't just economic; it's ethical, social, and cultural: who can afford to have a robot at home? And what does living with one entail?

This is where the debate broadens. NEO isn't a mass-market product (yet), but it could be the embryo of a booming market. Like the first iPhones or high-end electric cars, its impact isn't measured solely by initial sales, but by the paradigm shift it represents.

NEO's true innovation lies not only in what it does, but in how it does it. Compared to current virtual assistants like Alexa or Siri, this robot adds something radically new: a body. Intelligence no longer resides on a screen or in the cloud. It has form, arms, legs, and a gaze.

This changes the emotional and cognitive relationship humans establish with technology. Interaction ceases to be abstract. NEO can follow you around the house, look you in the eye, interpret gestures, and remember routines. And although its AI isn't conscious or autonomous in the human sense, its learning capacity is.

The Redwood AI system combines vision and language to execute complex commands within a physical context. This means it can, for example, open a door, recognize objects, or adapt its behavior to its surroundings. The more it works, the more it learns. The more it learns, the more autonomous it becomes.

NEO isn't the only one at the starting line, although it is the first to cross it. Tesla, with its Optimus robot, showcased a prototype in 2022 and promised a more advanced version in 2026. Figure AI unveiled Figure 03 in October 2025, but without a release date. In comparison, 1X has taken a bold step: launching a real product, complete with a date, price, and features.

This doesn't mean the battle is won. The humanoid robotics market is just getting started. The challenge will be to move from the anecdotal to the useful, from the experimental to the everyday. What will make a robot truly necessary in the home? What tasks will justify its daily integration?

Time—and early adopters—will provide the answer. But if technological history is any guide, we are on the first page of a book whose ending we don't yet know.

NEO represents more than just a functional robot. It's a symbol of what technology aspires to be: an extension of our capabilities, a solution to our routines, and perhaps a new form of companionship. But it also raises uncomfortable questions about privacy, dependence, and the humanization of machines.

Humans and robots living together is no longer science fiction. It has begun. And like any new relationship, it promises fascinating moments… and even greater dilemmas.