Humanoid Race Heats Up as 1X Unveils Talking Home Robot Helper NEO
Palo Alto–based robotics firm 1X has launched NEO, a humanoid home assistant designed to automate household chores through tendon-driven motors, soft materials, and embedded AI. The announcement accelerates a global race to commercialize human-shaped robots, with competitors like Richtech and Tesla targeting factories while 1X stakes its claim in domestic spaces.
Analysts project the humanoid and service-robot market will approach $400 billion within ten years, fueled by labor shortages and breakthroughs in embodied intelligence. "This started when I was 10," said 1X CEO Bernt Børnich, referencing sci-fi inspirations. The sector's pivot from lab prototypes to real-world applications now hinges on solving safety and trust challenges in consumer environments.
