1X Unveils World Model to Teach Neo Robots New Tasks

1X, a robotics company based in Palo Alto, California, has released a new AI system called the 1X World Model. This tool helps its Neo humanoid robots learn and carry out new tasks by watching videos and following simple prompts. The company announced the release as it prepares to send Neo robots into homes, with pre-orders already open since October and shipments planned for 2026 in the United States.

Background

1X started out building robots for warehouses but has shifted focus to home use. The original Neo was designed for industrial tasks like moving items in factories. Now, the company has adapted it for everyday household help. Neo stands about 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs around 66 pounds. It uses tendon-driven parts that make movements smooth and safe around people. The body has a soft covering made from a 3D lattice polymer that cushions any bumps. Joints are designed to avoid pinches, and the outer suit and shoes can go in a washing machine.

These features make Neo fit for living rooms rather than labs. It runs quietly at about 22 decibels, similar to a fridge. The robot has 75 points of movement in total, with 22 in each hand for grabbing objects like a human. It can lift up to 154 pounds at once, carry 55 pounds steadily, and handle 18 pounds per arm for daily chores. Hands are built to resist water and dust, with an IP68 rating, while the body handles splashes at IP44.

1X powers Neo with its own AI systems. Redwood AI handles vision, language, and body control, running on the robot's built-in graphics processor. It processes data at 5 frames per second with 160 million parameters, trained from real actions both remote-controlled and on its own. This setup lets Neo chat naturally, understand gestures, and respond to people in the room.

The company has ties to OpenAI, which has invested in its work. This partnership supports efforts to blend language understanding with physical actions. Neo walks at a normal human speed of about 1.2 meters per second, enough for home tasks without rushing. Its strength suits picking up groceries or laundry, not heavy factory loads.

Key Details

The 1X World Model is a physics-based AI that grasps how the real world works. It takes in videos of people doing tasks and turns them into actions the robot can do. A user gives a voice or text command, like 'fold the towel' or 'put the cup away.' Neo's cameras scan the area, predict what will happen next, and move accordingly using an inverse dynamics system to control its body.

This model lets Neo handle tasks it has never tried before, even with new objects or setups. It learns from huge amounts of online videos, applying that knowledge right away in physical spaces. Homes often have changing lights, mess, and people moving around. The World Model keeps Neo steady in these spots, making sure it completes jobs reliably.

Pre-orders for Neo opened in October, and the company says demand has gone beyond what they expected. Shipments start in early 2026 for the U.S., with other countries in 2027. Buyers can pick colors like tan, gray, or dark brown. The price sits at $20,000, aimed at people wanting help with tidying, fetching items, or basic upkeep.

Robot Specs at a Glance

• Height: 165 cm
• Weight: 30 kg
• Carry capacity: 25 kg sustained
• Hand speed: Up to 8 meters per second
• Noise level: 22 dB
• Degrees of freedom: 75 total

By default, Neo works on its own for known chores. For anything new, users can book a 1X expert to guide it remotely, so the robot learns while finishing the work.

“After years of developing our world model and making Neo’s design as close to human as possible, Neo can now learn from internet-scale video and apply that knowledge directly to the physical world,” Bernt Børnich, founder and CEO of 1X, said in a statement. “With the ability to transform any prompt into new actions — even without prior examples — this marks the starting point of Neo’s ability to teach itself to master nearly anything you could think to ask.”

What This Means

This release moves humanoid robots closer to handling home life without constant human input. Neo can now pick up skills from watching videos, cutting down the need for engineers to program every step. Over time, it could get better at chores by learning in real homes, adapting to each family's needs.

The focus on safety sets Neo apart from factory robots. Tendon systems let it give way if it bumps into someone, unlike stiff motors that might push back. Low speed and predictable moves make it less likely to cause accidents in tight spaces like kitchens.

Competition is growing in home robots. Companies like Tesla and Unitree are building similar machines. 1X aims to stand out with its AI that learns broadly from videos, not just set tasks. As more bots enter homes, they could change how people handle daily work, from cleaning to organizing.

1X sees Neo as a base for future improvements. The World Model is an early version, with plans to expand what it can learn. Spokespeople have not shared exact shipping dates or order numbers, but the push to homes shows confidence in the tech. Early users will test it in real settings, feeding data back to refine the system.

Households might soon have helpers that chat, move items, and learn on the fly. This could free up time for other things, though it raises questions about how robots fit into daily routines. 1X plans to roll out support for more tasks as the model grows.