Norwegian-American joint venture artificial intelligence (AI) robotics startup 1X Technologies AS showcased its household humanoid robot NEO at CES 2026. The robot opened for pre-orders at the end of October last year and is scheduled to begin deliveries to the U.S. market this year. This marks a significant advancement as robot technology, supported by OpenAI investment, transitions from the laboratory to the consumer market, bringing groundbreaking progress to the field of home automation.
This $20,000 robot stands approximately 168 cm tall and weighs about 30 kg, capable of performing household tasks such as folding clothes, vacuuming, and watering plants, with a runtime of 4 hours on a single charge. Bernt Børnich, CEO of 1X Technologies (hereinafter referred to as 1X), stated that NEO transforms humanoid robots from a science fiction concept into a real product, allowing people to genuinely seek help and receive practical assistance.

The company completed an A2 round of financing led by OpenAI in March 2023 and secured an additional $100 million investment led by Swedish investment firm EQT in January 2024. In December last year, 1X reached a strategic partnership with EQT, planning to provide up to 10,000 NEO robots to over 300 portfolio companies under EQT from 2026 to 2030, for use in industrial scenarios such as factories and warehouses.
This shift in commercialization reflects the market challenges faced by household humanoid robots, with industrial applications potentially becoming a faster deployment direction for the technology.
<h2>Core Performance of Household Robots</h2>
NEO is equipped with two highly dexterous robotic arms, each hand having 22 degrees of freedom, achieving human-level hand dexterity. The robot can lift items weighing 154 pounds (70 kg) and carry objects weighing 55 pounds (25 kg). It features four microphones, three speakers, and two fisheye cameras, with a noise level of only 22 decibels, quieter than a modern refrigerator.
NEO is built with a large language model, capable of natural conversation, environmental recognition, and memory of past interactions. Its audio intelligence allows the robot to recognize when it is being called, while its visual intelligence provides situational awareness, such as identifying ingredients on the kitchen counter and suggesting dishes. The memory function enables NEO to recall past conversations and adjust its responses over time.
The robot employs 1X's patented tendon-driven system, using high-torque density motors to drive the tendon transmission mechanism, creating gentle movements to ensure safety around humans. The body features a custom 3D mesh polymer structure, available in three colors (tan, gray, and dark brown), complemented by a soft knitted outer layer and shoes.
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<h2>Hybrid Operating Model to Address Technological Limitations</h2>
1X adopts a unique hybrid operating model and frankly admits that the current technology has not fully achieved its autonomy goals. For complex or unfamiliar tasks, the robot can rely on remote operators to provide guidance through VR headsets while learning during task execution.
NEO's &#34;household&#34; feature allows users to provide a task list and schedule completion times, enabling the robot to handle tasks such as folding clothes, organizing shelves, and cleaning spaces. For household chores that NEO has not yet mastered, users can arrange for 1X experts to guide the robot remotely to complete the tasks, helping it learn new skills.
This pragmatic approach allows NEO to continuously accumulate skills over time, gradually transitioning from remote assistance to full autonomy. The robot will be delivered to early users with basic task capabilities and will develop new skills with continued use and each software update.
<h2>From Consumer Market to Industrial Applications</h2>
According to an announcement at the end of October last year, NEO is now open for pre-order at a price of $20,000, or through a subscription model of $499 per month with a minimum contract duration of six months. 1X plans to deliver in the U.S. market in 2026 and expand to other markets in 2027. The company stated that the number of pre-orders far exceeded expectations but refused to disclose specific figures.
In December last year, 1X announced a strategic partnership with Swedish investment firm EQT, planning to provide up to 10,000 NEO robots to over 300 portfolio companies under EQT between 2026 and 2030. These robots will be primarily applied in manufacturing, warehousing, logistics, and other industrial scenarios. 1X will sign agreements with each interested portfolio company of EQT individually.
This collaboration is particularly noteworthy as NEO has previously been positioned as a household robot, with promotional emphasis on how it performs various household chores and interacts with people. 1X does have the EVE robot, designed specifically for industrial use, which is a two-wheeled robot capable of performing tasks in factories or serving as a patrol guard, able to open doors, take elevators, and operate keyboards.
The shift in commercialization path may reflect the real challenges faced by household humanoid robots. The $20,000 price tag limits the potential consumer base, and NEO also raises privacy concerns—1X's human operators can see the user's home situation through the robot's visual system. The size and stability issues of humanoid robots also pose potential safety risks to pets and young children.
<h2>OpenAI Leads Early Financing</h2>
According to 1X's announcement, the company completed a $23.5 million Series A2 financing round in March 2023, led by the OpenAI Startup Fund, with participation from Tiger Global and a consortium of Norwegian investors including Sandwater and Alliance Ventures.
Brad Lightcap, Chief Operating Officer of OpenAI and manager of the OpenAI Startup Fund, stated at the time that 1X is at the forefront of enhancing the workforce by using safe and advanced technology in the robotics field. The OpenAI Startup Fund believes in 1X's approach and its impact on the future of work
According to a report in January 2024, 1X raised $100 million in a funding round led by EQT Ventures to bring its second-generation robot NEO to market. 1X's CEO Børnich stated at the time that the funds would support the company in producing safe and advanced robots at commercial scale, aiming to manufacture hundreds of robots per month.
Founded in 2014, 1X has raised over $130 million in venture capital from institutions such as EQT Ventures, Tiger Global, and the OpenAI Startup Fund. Other shareholders include Samsung Next, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, Thursday Ventures, and Type One Ventures, with local Norwegian investors Sandwater and Valinor also holding stakes in the company.
1X competes in a crowded market of humanoid robot manufacturers, facing the challenge of building convincing and commercially viable humanoid robots. Recent humanoid robots launched include Tesla's Optimus, Sanctuary Cognitive Systems' Phoenix, and Figure AI's Figure 01. Amazon has also begun initial commercial testing of the humanoid robot Digit manufactured by Agility Robotics

OpenAI

The robot NEO is approximately 1.68 meters tall and weighs about 30 kilograms. It can perform household chores such as folding clothes, vacuuming, and watering plants. It can lift items weighing up to 70 kilograms and can operate for 4 hours on a single charge. Delivery is planned for the U.S. in 2026, with expansion to other markets in 2027. 1X has raised over $130 million to date, with OpenAI leading a $23.5 million funding round completed in 2023

Robot startup 1X, backed by OpenAI, showcased a household robot at CES with a price of $20,000