That new $20k robot is a VR puppet

PLUS: Debunking the viral AI vs. jobs chart and how AI hype is propping up the market

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Gen AI Art
November 03, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes

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That impressive new humanoid robot from 1X Technologies making the rounds has a secret: it’s not really autonomous. A new report reveals the NEO robot is primarily remote-controlled by humans in VR, sparking a debate about the true state of autonomous robotics.

This “sell the dream, build it later” approach asks early adopters to invest in a vision that's still in development. But does this strategy accelerate progress by gathering crucial data, or does it simply set unrealistic expectations for the AI industry?

Today in AI:

  • The reality behind 1X's NEO robot

  • Debunking the viral AI vs. jobs chart

  • How AI hype is propping up the market

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What’s new? 1X Technologies’ impressive new humanoid robot, NEO, was revealed to be mostly remote-controlled by humans in VR, sparking a debate about the state of autonomous robotics.

What matters?

  • A recent WSJ report revealed that 100% of live demos were teleoperated, with a popular breakdown video confirming that most tasks shown in the launch demo were not autonomous.

  • The CEO explained that early adopters are essentially signing a "social contract" to let human operators control the robot in their homes to gather data for future autonomy.

  • This “sell the dream, build it later” approach follows a risky trend in AI hardware, asking users to invest in a vision that is still largely in development, as seen in the official demo.

Why it matters?

This situation serves as a crucial reality check on the hype surrounding autonomous robotics, showing the immense gap between polished demos and real-world capability. It underscores that creating AI that can navigate complex, unstructured environments remains one of the industry's biggest challenges.

GUIDE

What’s new? A viral chart suggesting AI is crushing job openings while boosting the stock market is making the rounds. However, economists point to more traditional factors for the economic shifts.

What matters?

  • The chart is largely misleading, as the drop in job openings began in 2022 after the Fed initiated multiple interest rate hikes to curb inflation.

  • The real story is how AI hype is propping up market valuations, with companies like NVIDIA significantly contributing to the S&P 500's performance.

  • Still, the trend isn't entirely without merit, as Fed Chair Jerome Powell acknowledged that AI is "definitely impacting jobs," even if the chart overstates the immediate effect.

Why it matters?

This highlights the growing gap between AI-driven market sentiment and on-the-ground economic realities. Understanding this distinction helps you separate genuine technological impact from speculative financial trends.

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What’s new? Chinese robotics firm AgiBot launched LinkCraft, a new platform that turns simple videos of human movements into precise instructions for robots.

What matters?

  • LinkCraft analyzes a video of a person performing an action and automatically translates it into executable robot commands.

  • The platform's zero-code interface means users without any programming experience can now automate complex physical tasks.

  • This approach significantly reduces the time and technical expertise needed to deploy robots for new, specialized applications.

Why it matters?

Tools like LinkCraft are making robotic automation more accessible than ever, moving it out of specialized labs. This allows businesses and creators to rapidly prototype and deploy robotic solutions without needing a team of engineers.

Everything else in AI

Booster introduced its K1 tiny robot, a $6,000 alternative to larger humanoid models that is available for purchase now.

Noetix unveiled its Bumi robot, a small humanoid model with a significantly lower price point of approximately $1,400.

Bumi is also being highlighted as the world's cheapest humanoid robot, offering an accessible entry point into robotics for hobbyists and developers.

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