The California-based robotics company 1X is now taking pre‑orders for its humanoid home robot, NEO, according to Engadget. The robot is priced at $20,000 or $499 per month through a subscription, with a $200 deposit, and shipping is expected in 2026.

The outlet notes that NEO can perform household tasks, including opening doors, fetching items, and turning lights on and off. For more complex chores, human teleoperators can remotely control the robot through its cameras to train it for additional functions.

1X CEO Bernt Børnich told The Wall Street Journal that teleoperation is temporary while the AI learns.

“It’s not for everyone,” he said.

“If we don’t have your data, we can’t make the product better,” he added.

In the same article, Børnich acknowledged that quality may lag initially, describing minor imperfections as “robotics slop,” but said the AI will “improve drastically” as more data is collected.

Privacy and security measures are built into NEO, as Engadget notes. Owners can use a companion app to schedule teleoperator sessions, assign tasks, and set no-go zones.

The outlet also states that operators cannot control Neo without approval, and videos used for training are not accessible to employees without consent. Børnich compared teleoperation to hiring a house cleaner, noting that operators are vetted and monitored, per The Wall Street Journal.

According to Engadget, teleoperation and autonomous capabilities allow NEO to expand its functionality over time while reducing reliance on remote operators as the AI becomes more capable. Owners will be able to monitor and manage the NEO robot through the app, and the AI is expected to continue improving with daily use in real home environments.

NEO is currently available in tan, gray, and dark brown. Pre-orders are open on 1X’s website, giving early adopters the opportunity to be among the first to integrate a humanoid robot into their homes.