1x-technologies

The 1X NEO launch sparked debate over its use of teleoperation. But for 1X, this 'Expert Mode' isn't a bug—it's the core of a long-held strategy built on a foundation of passive safety and data diversity.

The $20,000 NEO humanoid robot pre-order has drawn massive online attention, but it has also polarized the tech community, pitting proponents of its transparent, human-in-the-loop strategy against critics—including rival CEOs—who label it an unfinished ''hype reel''.

Speaking at an NVIDIA GTC panel, Figure CEO Brett Adcock dismissed teleoperation as "soy stuff" and claimed the real race is for general-purpose AI, not manufacturing, in the US vs. China competition.

With pre-orders for its $20,000 NEO robot open, 1X is transparent about its strategy: early adopters will use a human-piloted "Expert Mode" to help train the robot's AI, a "social contract" built on a surprisingly lightweight, tendon-driven body.

Following days of speculation, 1X has officially announced its NEO humanoid robot is available for pre-order as a consumer product, priced at $20,000 or $499/month. The launch confirms the company's strategy to use a "human-in-the-loop" model to train its AI in real-world homes.