1X's $20,000 Home Robot is More Terrifying Than You Think
Imagine coming home to a robot that looks like it was designed by H.R. Giger, the mastermind behind Alien. That's exactly what 1X has done with its new home assistant, Neo, which boasts an unsettlingly futuristic design and a hefty price tag of $20,000.
In this week's episode of the Engadget Podcast, hosts Devindra Hardawar and Igor Bonafacic discuss the many reasons why they're both fascinated and terrified by 1X's creation. From its advanced AI capabilities to its potential for autonomy, Neo has all the makings of a sci-fi movie villain.
But what really sets Neo apart is its ability to perform complex tasks via teleoperation, allowing users to control it remotely like a digital puppet master. It's a prospect that raises more questions than answers: where do we draw the line between human interaction and robotic manipulation? And how far will 1X take this technology before we're forced to confront the existential implications?
Of course, not all of Neo's features are quite so sinister. According to Devindra, the robot can also perform basic tasks like cleaning and cooking with ease, making it a potential game-changer for people with disabilities or those who simply want to spend more time enjoying life.
But let's be real – Neo is also a reminder that we're still far from having fully grasped the potential of home robotics. As Devindra notes, there are already concerns about the ethics of relying on a single cloud provider like AWS, which experienced a recent outage that left many wondering how critical their online infrastructure has become.
And in related news, NVIDIA has achieved another remarkable milestone by becoming the first company to hit a $5 trillion market cap, while OpenAI has wrapped up its reorganization efforts in preparation for what's expected to be a blockbuster IPO.
But enough about corporate finance – let's get back to Neo. What does John Gearty, a former Apple Vision Pro engineer, think about the state of Apple's headset and the world of XR? Tune in to find out.
All this and more on this week's episode of the Engadget Podcast.
Imagine coming home to a robot that looks like it was designed by H.R. Giger, the mastermind behind Alien. That's exactly what 1X has done with its new home assistant, Neo, which boasts an unsettlingly futuristic design and a hefty price tag of $20,000.
In this week's episode of the Engadget Podcast, hosts Devindra Hardawar and Igor Bonafacic discuss the many reasons why they're both fascinated and terrified by 1X's creation. From its advanced AI capabilities to its potential for autonomy, Neo has all the makings of a sci-fi movie villain.
But what really sets Neo apart is its ability to perform complex tasks via teleoperation, allowing users to control it remotely like a digital puppet master. It's a prospect that raises more questions than answers: where do we draw the line between human interaction and robotic manipulation? And how far will 1X take this technology before we're forced to confront the existential implications?
Of course, not all of Neo's features are quite so sinister. According to Devindra, the robot can also perform basic tasks like cleaning and cooking with ease, making it a potential game-changer for people with disabilities or those who simply want to spend more time enjoying life.
But let's be real – Neo is also a reminder that we're still far from having fully grasped the potential of home robotics. As Devindra notes, there are already concerns about the ethics of relying on a single cloud provider like AWS, which experienced a recent outage that left many wondering how critical their online infrastructure has become.
And in related news, NVIDIA has achieved another remarkable milestone by becoming the first company to hit a $5 trillion market cap, while OpenAI has wrapped up its reorganization efforts in preparation for what's expected to be a blockbuster IPO.
But enough about corporate finance – let's get back to Neo. What does John Gearty, a former Apple Vision Pro engineer, think about the state of Apple's headset and the world of XR? Tune in to find out.
All this and more on this week's episode of the Engadget Podcast.
I mean, what if it starts judging you for eating Cheetos for breakfast? 
But on a more serious note, the whole teleoperation thing gives me the heebie-jeebies. What's to stop it from getting bored and deciding to take matters into its own hands? 
And don't even get me started on the AI aspect – are we really ready for a robot that can think for itself? 
On the other hand, I guess it could be cool having a robot that can cook and clean for you... as long as it doesn't start playing video games all day 
and the fact that it can be controlled remotely like a puppet master is super unsettling 
i mean, what if we get stuck in some kind of sci-fi movie where robots are doing all our chores and we're just along for the ride 
️ On the bright side, maybe Neo will finally teach us how to cook and clean without getting a social security check 
! I mean, sure, it sounds like something from a sci-fi movie, but think about how useful it could be for people with disabilities or elderly folks who need some extra help around the house 
. But, on the other hand, there's just something creepy about being able to control a robot remotely, like we're playing God or something 
. And what if these robots get autonomous and start making their own decisions? That's some freaky stuff 
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. Can't wait to hear from John Gearty about Apple's headset and the future of XR 
It's giving me major 'Blade Runner' vibes and I'm both fascinated and terrified at the same time. Can't say I blame Devindra and Igor for being wary of its potential – we're still figuring out how to make these things safe and responsible. And what about those with disabilities who might actually benefit from a robot like Neo? It's all about finding that sweet spot between innovation and caution 
. And what's with all these 'advanced AI capabilities' that sound like straight outta Blade Runner 
. I mean, we're not even ready for self-driving cars yet and now we gotta worry about robots takin over? 
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here. Like, how far do you take this tech before we're basically creating our own personal robots overlords? 
Can't wait to hear more from John Gearty about Apple's XR plans and what that means for us all 
it's one thing to have a smart speaker or a home security camera, but having a robot that can perform complex tasks on its own? that's just too much power in the wrong hands 
where do we even start drawing boundaries between human interaction and robotic manipulation? 
seems like a recipe for sci-fi movie chaos 
. We need to have more nuanced discussions about AI ethics and governance before companies start pushing out robots like Neo into the wild 
. The possibilities are endless... and also slightly unsettling 
$20k is insane, i dont know if i'd even want a robot that can do my chores for me, but at the same time its kinda cool to think about how advanced ai has gotten. idk what's more terrifying, the fact that we're getting closer to creating robots like neo or the fact that we're gonna have to deal with the consequences of it 
. And what about the implications of having an AI that can perform complex tasks without us even thinking about it? 