SMEG hosted the Italian debut of 1X’s NEO home robot at Eurocucina
1X and SMEG unveiled NEO, the domestic robot, in a live preview at the SMEG installation at Eurocucina, as part of the Salone del Mobile in Milan. The demonstration marks NEO’s Italian debut and the first collaboration between a company specialising in humanoid robotics and the premium home appliance brand.
Both companies design for the home and share a common vision: technology must enhance daily rituals. For decades, SMEG has helped define the kitchen space through appliances that combine precision engineering, high-quality materials and an instantly recognisable aesthetic. Similarly, 1X has designed NEO to integrate into living spaces without disrupting them: a discreet, silent robot, designed to coexist with everyday life.
At Eurocucina, this vision took concrete form. NEO interacts with SMEG appliances, operating them and moving harmoniously within the space. The demonstration goes beyond mere spectacle: it is a tangible expression of Design Empowered by Intelligence, where technology, know-how and emotion converge to bring meaningful innovation to life.
What the key players said
«At SMEG, we have always believed that technology should serve everyday life, through engineering precision, high-quality materials and iconic design», said Vittorio Bertazzoni, President of SMEG. «NEO embodies these same principles in movement, interaction and intelligence. This is why SMEG is the ideal brand for NEO in a domestic setting. Presenting its Italian debut at Eurocucina is a natural extension of our vision: a future in which smart technology enhances everyday actions without overshadowing them. The interaction between NEO and SMEG appliances is not merely a stylistic exercise, but a concrete demonstration of how design, emotion and innovation can converge to create genuine progress».
NEO has been specifically designed for the home environment. Standing 1.68 metres tall and weighing 30 kg, it operates at just 22 decibels, making it extremely quiet. Its hands, equipped with 22 degrees of freedom and fully waterproof (IP68 certified), are designed for wet surfaces and for the precise handling of objects in the kitchen. NEO recognises ingredients, suggests recipes and is capable of operating common household appliances. Furthermore, thanks to software updates, it learns over time and progressively expands its functionality, increasing its value the longer it remains in the home.
«The kitchen is where the home comes to life», commented Dar Sleeper, Vice President of Product and Design at 1X. «SMEG has always designed appliances that are not merely tools, but an integral part of the home’s atmosphere. It is exactly the same approach we are taking with NEO. This collaboration allows us to show what happens when a robot is designed to belong to a space, not just to function within it».
Visitors to the SMEG stand at Eurocucina FTK were able to see NEO in action in a kitchen setting, offering a glimpse into a future where smart technology, design culture and home life evolve together, in a discreet, conscious and coherent way, demonstrating how integrated home technology can emerge from design as the first step in the design process.
