Jack Fisher's Official Publishing Blog

It’s a common futuristic trope. At some point, humanity develops robots that are capable of performing everyday household tasks. From Rosie in “The Jetsons” to the units in “I Robot,” they offer an enticing premise. They’re essentially a maid who doesn’t get tired, doesn’t have a bad attitude, and doesn’t inspire any guilt that may come from relegating certain people to service roles.

There’s a lot more to be said about why this trope exists. Some of it has implications that I’d rather not dwell on. But let’s not lie to ourselves. The idea of having a personal robot maid is appealing to many. That appeal extends beyond the possibility of sex robots, which are also a notable trope.

While the current state of sex robots is a different conversation, the concept of a personal robot is very relevant. The rise of artificial intelligence has already impacted robotics. It’s not enough to just create robots with the dexterity and nimbleness of a human. Companies like Boston Dynamics have been doing that for years.

But those robots are mostly just autonomous puppets. Their movements are either pre-programmed or controlled by a human. It’s still a critical component in the development of personal robots. But it’s not enough to make them viable.

Now, we may be at a point where such robots can be a real product. Earlier this year, a company called 1X introduced the first commercial personal robot.

They call it Neo. And it’s currently available for pre-order and the cost is steep at $20,000. Whether or not those orders are fulfilled remains to be seen. It’s possible this could be another Elon Musk style vaporware grift. However, it’s still relevant in that it marks another step.

This robot is certainly no Rosie. It’s also not the kind of robot you might see working in an Amazon warehouse. It feels like a first effort in creating a viable personal robot. Like the first cell phones of the 1980s, it’s a clunky novelty with limited function. This robot doesn’t have an AI that allows it to act independently. It’s actually teleoperated.

That means if or when you get one, it will have to connect remotely to a human operator to help it learn tasks. In a sense, Neo is like an entry level employee that requires extensive training. But it does have a measure of programming that allows it to learn, like your typical narrow AI. And once it learns well enough, it can perform tasks independently.

Those tasks can’t be overly complex. Things like doing the dishes, folding laundry, and cleaning a home is not all that complicated. With some learning, it can probably carry out those tasks about as well as a young teenager. But Neo also has some additional functionality. It can engage in conversations like a typical chatbot.

Couple this with its small stature and non-threatening look and this robot can be a companion, as well as a helper. Again, it’s not a sex robot. Expecting it to be that intimate is like expecting one of those bulky 80s cell phones to take dick pics. I still don’t doubt that will enter the equation at some point in this market. But this added element of connection is another step in the process.

Assuming these robots do actually get sold, it’ll open the doors to a new market. And whichever company gains that initial foothold will be primed to make billions. Say what you will about the current state of the AI industry and there is a lot to say. But it’s an industry full of potential profits for any company that’s capable of realizing them. Doing so will require a great deal of time, money, and investment.

But the incentives are in place. The technology is developing and improving. Fully capable personal robots won’t arrive all at once. Like any other technology, it has to go through a maturation process. But with Neo, that process might have officially begun.