1X clashes with journalist over ‘creepy’ Neo robot hand video

A demonstration video of 1X Technologies' NEO humanoid robot performing delicate tasks with newly unveiled tendon-driven hands has gone viral, igniting a debate that cuts to the heart of how society perceives — and describes — robotic advancement.

The Hands That Launched a Thousand Comments

On July 9, 1X Technologies released a video showcasing NEO's new 25-degree-of-freedom hands performing tasks ranging from picking grapes off stems and zipping jackets to lifting a 20-pound kettlebell and plugging in a USB-C cable. The Norwegian-American robotics company described the hands as achieving "near human-level dexterity, strength, safety, and reliability," noting they feature 22 actuated joints across the fingers and palm plus three degrees of freedom at the wrist.wired+4

Within days, the video had drawn millions of views across social media platforms. Mashable published a piece describing the footage as "creepy," a characterization that drew a sharp response from a 1X vice president. According to Futurism, which reported on the exchange, the company pushed back against the framing, arguing that such coverage misrepresents a genuine engineering breakthrough.mashable+2

A Dexterity Milestone

Roboticists have long considered hands one of the hardest unsolved problems in the field. Human hands possess 27 degrees of freedom; NEO's new hands come within two of that benchmark. The tendon-driven design mimics how human forearm tendons actuate finger movement, and embedded cameras, AI, and tactile sensors allow the robot to detect slipping objects and adjust its grip in real time.indiatoday+2

The hands are also IP68 waterproof, built from food-safe materials, and have been validated through millions of durability test cycles, according to 1X. As Wired noted, NEO can wash its own hands after handling food — an unusual capability for a humanoid platform.wired+2

Workplace Implications and Skepticism

Business Insider reported that 1X frames the new hands as solving the long-standing "hands problem" that has kept humanoid robots out of practical workplaces. The company already deploys its earlier robot, EVE, in warehouse settings, and observers have noted that the dexterity data collected there feeds into NEO's development.businessinsider+1

Still, questions remain about autonomy. A Wall Street Journal investigation last year revealed that NEO relies partly on human teleoperation for complex tasks, with skilled "experts" remotely guiding the robot through difficult chores. 1X has said that full autonomy is the goal, and that human involvement will diminish as its AI improves with more training data.youtube+1

NEO is expected to begin shipping to U.S. households by the end of 2026, priced at $20,000 or $500 per month.wired+1