The dream of having a helpful humanoid robot around the house might finally be approaching reality. According to recent updates from 1X, their NEO robots equipped with the new RedWood AI model called VLA (Vision-Language-Action) are demonstrating impressive capabilities in home environments. These robots aren’t just performing pre-programmed tasks—they’re moving freely through homes, picking up objects, doing housework, operating appliances like washing machines, and responding to human needs in real-time.
What makes the NEO system particularly noteworthy is its learning approach. Unlike industrial robots confined to structured environments, NEO operates in the chaotic, personalized world of actual homes. This provides RedWood AI with incredibly diverse training data, creating a flywheel effect where the robot gets progressively more capable through real-world interactions. The system learns from human experience, developing higher-level intelligence through a continuous improvement loop (RedWood→NEO→Home/Outdoor→RedWood).
NEO’s physical capabilities are equally impressive. The robot demonstrates remarkably human-like motion control—squatting to load washing machines, bending to pick up leaves and place them in bags, and even using its left hand against a wall for balance when opening doors. 1X has even announced that NEO can now run outdoors, expanding its potential uses beyond the home. One can imagine future scenarios where these robots accompany families on outdoor adventures as helpful companions. With Figure’s Helix robot recently achieving a 94% success rate in logistics package sorting, it seems the race for practical humanoid robots is accelerating rapidly.
