The Problem with this Humanoid Robot

The humanoid robot NEO is currently a pre-order product with grand promises of autonomous household assistance, but its current capabilities are vastly limited and primarily rely on remote human operation, highlighting a pervasive 'AI promise problem' in tech.

• NEO robot is marketed as an autonomous home assistant, but largely relies on remote human control.

• A significant gap exists between NEO's promised AI capabilities and its current, limited functionality.

• The strategy of selling an AI 'dream' before the product is ready is a common problem in the tech industry.

The NEO humanoid robot is marketed as a futuristic home assistant capable of autonomous chores, but its current reality falls far short of the advertised dream. Most of its demonstrated functions are tele-operated by humans, with only two minor tasks showing limited autonomy. This disparity between promise and current capability, driven by the intense challenge of developing robust AI for complex home environments, is a significant issue in today's AI product landscape.

NEO Robot's Capabilities

• 00:00:18 NEO is presented as a five-foot-six, 66-pound humanoid robot designed for household chores, featuring a four-hour battery life and self-charging. It is advertised to perform tasks like folding laundry, doing dishes, watering plants, and vacuuming, acting as a personal assistant, especially beneficial for individuals with mobility issues. The robot is available for pre-order at $500/month or a $20,000 flat fee, with deliveries allegedly starting next year.

Reality vs. Promise

• 00:03:03 The primary issue with NEO is the significant gap between its advertised capabilities and its current functionality. While the marketing suggests advanced AI and autonomous learning, demonstrations have revealed that 100% of the complex tasks shown, such as loading a dishwasher or carrying objects, are performed via remote human tele-operation using a VR headset. The company's own keynote video sparingly labels autonomous actions, with only two simple tasks—opening a door and picking up a specific cup—shown to be truly autonomous.

The AI Promise Problem

• 00:06:31 Many modern AI products, like the Humane Pin and Rabbit R1, are characterized by a 'promise problem,' where companies announce products and sell an ambitious dream far before the technology is fully developed and capable. This strategy is driven by the immense challenge of developing sophisticated AI systems that can learn and adapt to diverse, unpredictable environments, such as a home, requiring vast amounts of training data and real-world testing from early adopters.

Challenges and Downsides

• 00:10:03 Developing a truly autonomous home AI robot faces numerous variables and challenges, akin to but potentially more complex than self-driving cars, requiring extensive training data for household tasks and object recognition. Early adopters of NEO are expected to tolerate tele-operated 'expert mode' functions, which involves company employees remotely viewing the home through the robot's sensors to complete tasks. This raises privacy concerns and questions whether enough consumers will accept beta testing a $20,000 humanoid robot that is slow, clumsy, weak, and carries potential safety risks with critical tasks like medication dispersal.