(Photo: 1X Technologies)
Chicago, IL — November 1, 2025
A new era for home technology may be arriving in households across the Great Lakes region as 1X Technologies has officially opened pre‑orders for NEO, a humanoid home assistant robot designed to handle everyday tasks and provide personalized digital assistance.
The announcement, made on October 28, 2025, marks a significant moment in consumer robotics — bringing what many once considered science fiction into practical reality. While NEO isn’t exclusively launching first in Chicago or the Great Lakes, residents in the region are among consumers nationwide now able to reserve one for delivery beginning in 2026.
What Is NEO?
NEO is a humanoid robot created by 1X Technologies, a **Norwegian‑American AI and robotics company headquartered in Palo Alto, California. The robot is built to assist with everyday home chores — such as folding laundry, organizing spaces, and tidying up — while also functioning as an interactive AI assistant capable of conversational engagement and contextual learning.
Standing approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing around 66 pounds, NEO features a soft, human‑approachable exterior and an advanced “tendon‑drive” system designed to make its movements smooth and safe for domestic environments.
Semi‑Autonomy and Expert Assistance
NEO arrives with basic autonomous ability, but for tasks it hasn’t learned yet, 1X provides a unique approach: owners can schedule sessions during which a vetted remote 1X expert can supervise or guide the robot to complete the task and train it in the process. This “Expert Mode” helps improve the robot’s AI over time but requires user consent when remote access to a home is involved.
This hybrid model has sparked discussion within robotics and privacy circles — giving early adopters more capability today while shaping the future of fully autonomous home helpers.