NEO Is Here. Is This the Turning Point for the Robotics Era?

The relationship between AI and crypto is... vague.

Fun Fact: Most people who are into crypto are also highly interested in AI. Previously, Cluely, an AI startup that helps users "cheat on everything," raised $15 million from a16z.

The reason is simple: they are both life-changing new tech and have massive potential that hasn’t fully been realized yet. People knew about them, but many still hold back due to concerns like ethics, fear of the unknown, or a preference to stick with what they’re already familiar with.

For most people, AI still means chatbots like ChatGPT, Grok and Claude, which are all large language models.

But that is not what people truly want from AI.

That post went viral last year because it perfectly captured what most people actually want: not art generators or essay bots, but AI that handles real-life burdens.

While most of today’s AI + crypto narrative still revolves around AI agents, there’s a much bigger shift happening right now.

Humanoid robots at home are no longer sci-fi.

That future is already here, and it’s arriving faster than most people realize.

NEO is the world’s first consumer humanoid robot for home use, developed by 1X Technologies, a Norwegian-American robotics and artificial intelligence company. It features a voice interface and mobile app to manage chore schedules, communicate remotely, and monitor robot activity. Its body uses a soft polymer design, and it runs on Redwood AI with a built-in large language model, enabling it to understand instructions, reason, and hold conversations.

• Height: 5'6"

• Weight: 66 lbs

• Price: $20,000 to buy or $500/month subscription

• Delivery: Begins in 2026

• Capabilities: Domestic chores, remote piloting via app

• Limitations: Not waterproof, designed only for indoor/home use

However, there's one major issue most people are overlooking: PRIVACY

NEO includes a feature called 1X Expert. When the robot encounters a task it cannot complete, users can connect to a remote human operator who can guide or directly control NEO. In other words, a human somewhere in the world could remotely operate a robot inside your home.

Behind the scenes, many tasks will rely on human teleoperation. The so-called “Expert Mode” allows external operators to supervise, intervene, and even take control, which raises serious concerns about surveillance, security, and personal privacy.

Fun Fact: Neo, the main protagonist of The Matrix played by Keanu Reeves, is a human who lived inside a simulated reality controlled by machines. He worked as a programmer by day and a hacker by night until he was freed from the Matrix. While 1X Technologies has never explained the inspiration behind the name NEO for their robot, the similarity is certainly interesting, and a little symbolic.

Why does this matter for investors?

The rise of humanoid robots isn’t just a technological shift, but a massive investment opportunity.

Robotics companies are mostly Web2 businesses, and their valuations are significantly higher than most Web3 projects. Unlike token-based startups, robotics companies offer something traditional investors love: real products, real revenue, real exits. Investors can simply exit in later funding rounds when a higher valuation is fully subscribed, and hence no token unlock drama, no on-chain liquidity issues.

Anything related to AI is also well-positioned to perform in the future.

AI isn’t just about software anymore, but the entire ecosystem around it: rare earth materials for chips, AI bots, robotics, and humanoids is quickly becoming the most valuable part of the stack.

Capital follows innovation, and it’s already rotating in this direction.

Cooker, a prominent trader, shared his view that this company will likely be acquired by a major tech giant by 2026 and could reach a valuation of $30-50B once its robots are mass produced and delivered.

His investment in August jumped from a $2.8 billion valuation to $10 billion in the next funding round, a rapid 3.5x increase. The downside, however, is that investors typically have to wait for an IPO or acquisition to realize returns, which can take time, but it can still be very rewarding.

1X is reportedly seeking up to $1B in new funding at a potential valuation of $10B or more. According to Tracxn, 1X Technologies has raised a total of $126M over 4 funding rounds. Notably, OpenAI has also invested in 1X Technologies.

Robotic bubble is forming

Momentum in the robotics sector is accelerating so quickly that some analysts believe we are witnessing the early stages of a robotics valuation bubble.

Renowned technology futurist and author, Rober Scoble shared some insights about what’s happening in the space:

Unitree Robotics, a Chinese maker of quadruped and humanoid robots, is reportedly preparing for an IPO at a $7 billion valuation by late 2025. There are rumors that the U.S. investors are being excluded from its pre-IPO round, but that's not the main point here.

The real story is the massive chain reaction Unitree’s IPO could trigger across the global robotics market.

If Unitree’s IPO succeeds with a high valuation, it could ignite a surge of investor interest across the entire robotics sector. This would likely boost the valuations of other leading companies working on humanoid robots, such as:

• @Figure_robot - Figure AI, a U.S. startup developing humanoid robots for industrial use

• @Tesla - Developer of the Optimus humanoid robot, which many investors see as Tesla’s next major growth catalyst

• @kscalelabs - Robotics and AI startup focused on next-generation robot software and control systems

• @foundation_robo - Company building foundational robotics technology and infrastructure

He also points out that Tesla’s recent stock rally, despite slowing car sales, reflects a shift in market focus. Smart money is beginning to rotate into companies building humanoid robots, anticipating a major robotics boom in the coming years.

NVIDIA as a Major Beneficiary

NVIDIA is also expected to be a big winner in the robotics arms race. At GTC 2025, CEO Jensen Huang said humanoid robots will become one of the largest consumer and industrial markets, helping solve a global shortage of 50 million workers by 2030. Robots, especially humanoids powered by AI, rely on high-performance chips for perception, decision-making, motion control, and training the robot’s “brain.”

NVIDIA stands to gain massively from rising robotics demand.

NVIDIA is already moving in, recently partnering with 1X Technologies to advance AI for humanoid robots like NEO.

Position yourself for the long term

The rise of humanoid robots signals the next major platform shift after mobile and cloud, and it could be bigger than both AI + crypto combined.

As of now, the robotics wave is not a question of if but when, and early positioning will matter. This is definitely not a short-term play, so position yourself for the long term.