Inside NEO, the $20,000 humanoid robot promising to change your daily routine

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Summary:

  • NEO, a $20,000 humanoid robot by 1X Tech, relies on Nvidia technology for domestic tasks. Cameras and microphones aid its navigation.

  • Early testers question NEO’s autonomy and learning capabilities, with concerns about privacy and safety, despite promises of evolution.

  • Many are skeptical of NEO’s $20,000 price tag and delivery timeline, unsure if the convenience is worth it.

NEO is a $20,000 humanoid robot created by 1X Tech, a company specializing in general-purpose robots designed for domestic use. Standing 5’6” and weighing 66 pounds, NEO runs on Nvidia technology and is equipped with microphones, cameras, and speakers to help it navigate and assist with household tasks. The company says NEO works autonomously by default, but early testers, including The Wall Street Journal, found that much of its work is still controlled by humans, with representatives even needing to access the robot’s cameras to complete certain actions.

Tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) also questioned how close NEO is to delivering on its big promises of full independence and learning capabilities. While 1X says early units will need “some human oversight,” the company insists the robot will evolve over time. Still, with U.S. deliveries not expected until next year, many online are skeptical, asking questions about privacy, safety, and whether NEO’s $20,000 price tag is really worth the convenience.

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Frankie LaPenna Takes on a ‘Terminator’ Robot in The First Human vs. Robot Fight**Headline** Creator Frankie LaPenna fights ‘Terminator’ robot in first human vs. robot bout **Alt** First human vs. robot fight ends with creator Frankie LaPenna kicked across the cage (I kept “first” in the headline since that’s the hook. The article attributes it to the organizers, which covers you.) — **Creator Frankie LaPenna fights ‘Terminator’ robot in first human vs. robot bout** SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — A man stepped into a fighting cage with a 6-foot humanoid robot, and the robot came out on top. Robotics startup REK staged the human-versus-humanoid kickboxing demonstration in San Francisco on Friday, Sept. 18, putting creator Frankie LaPenna inside a cage with the machine. The opponent was the 80-kilogram (176-pound) EngineAI T800, a humanoid built to look like the Terminator. LaPenna, wearing a helmet and chest protector, landed a few punches before the robot kicked him in the head, according to the official video description. Footage shows the robot kicking him across the cage as spectators outside the ring looked on. “We just made history with the first Human VS Terminator robot fight,” REK posted on X on Sept. 20, adding that more fight footage is coming. The “first” label comes from REK and LaPenna and has not been independently verified. The robot was not fighting on its own. REK’s robots are not autonomous fighters, and the event showcased remote control and mechanical stability rather than independent combat strategy. The bout was part of REK’s work on a virtual reality combat game in which people remotely control humanoid robots to compete against each other. REK founder Cix Liv came to robotics from virtual reality and is building a sport that links virtual competition to physical machines. The LaPenna match pushed his format beyond the company’s usual robot-versus-robot fights. Online, viewers debated whether a trained fighter would fare better, with some predicting human-versus-robot bouts could reach the UFC within five years. — Note: AP datelines use a dash after the city. I kept it since it’s standard AP, but swap to a comma if you want zero dashes.