$20,000 Robot Servant Comes With a Major Catch

"That's when it arrives: a big bulky box on the front porch. You quickly drag it in off the stoop and into the living room. Tearing open the package reveals your NEO robot from Palo Alto-based startup 1X, a dull tan bipedal machine with a knitted covering and two beady little eyes. You gaze at its sock puppet visage. $20,000 worth of chore-saving robotics in the flesh."

"The machine, as detailed by Fast Company, is currently in the preorder phase of production. Weighing 66 pounds and standing five foot six, the NEO comes in various mossy shades like tan, gray, and dark brown. Users can reserve a preorder spot for just $200, and then either pay a subscription fee of $499 a month, or a one-time buy-it-forever fee of $20,000."

NEO is a 66-pound, 5'6" fabric-wrapped bipedal chore robot available for preorder with various mossy color options. Buyers can reserve with a $200 deposit and choose $499 monthly subscription or a $20,000 one-time purchase. The robot is not autonomous and will be operated by remote human workers via a scheduling app. Remote operation creates continuous in-home visibility for strangers and ongoing data collection tied to improving the product. The design favors a soft, approachable aesthetic rather than a hard, sci-fi look. The combination of remote operators, subscription model, and home access raises significant privacy and comfort concerns.

Read at Futurism