The Butler in the Machine: How LG’s CLOiD is Shining at the CES 2026

The year 2026 didn’t just start with new resolutions; it started with a new kind of housemate. At the recent CES 2026, LG Electronics took the stage to unveil CLOiD, a domestic humanoid that represents the final piece of the "Smart Home" puzzle. But LG isn't alone in this race. While they were showing off their sleek, wheeled assistant, the industry was already buzzing about NEO, the soft-bodied, walking humanoid from 1X Technologies.

Together, these two robots represent a massive shift: we are moving from robots that vacuum our floors to robots that actually live with us.

Meet CLOiD: The Specifications

CLOiD is a "semi-humanoid" designed specifically for the unique challenges of a living room rather than a warehouse. LG opted for a wheeled-base design to ensure stability around pets and children while keeping the upper body as dexterous as a human.

Beneath its sleek, humanoid-inspired exterior, CLOiD is powered by LG’s "Physical AI" stack, which combines a VLM to understand the cluttered home environment with a VLA model to execute complex chores. Running on the Q9 AI Hub and integrated natively with the ThinQ ON ecosystem, the robot translates verbal and visual cues into smooth, purposeful actions. These physical movements are carried out by dual 87-centimeter arms, each boasting 7 degrees of freedom (DoF) to mirror the full range of motion of a human arm. To ensure delicate precision, LG equipped the hands with five independently actuated fingers, all driven by the company’s new AXIUM actuators, which provide the high torque and fine motor control necessary for tasks ranging from loading a dishwasher to folding freshly dried laundry.

1X NEO: The Bio-Inspired Companion

If LG’s CLOiD is the ultimate "appliance," then 1X Technologies’ NEO is the ultimate "companion." While CLOiD rolls, NEO walks.

Designed to look and feel more human, NEO uses a bipedal design, allowing it to climb stairs and step over obstacles that might stop a wheeled robot. But the real magic is in its "skin." NEO is a soft-bodied robot, wrapped in a specialized polymer suit that makes it feel soft to the touch.

Unlike the motor-heavy joints of traditional robots, NEO is tendon-driven. This makes it incredibly quiet and naturally "compliant," meaning if it bumps into you, it yields like a human arm would, rather than hitting you like a piece of industrial machinery.

A Decade in the Making: LG’s Robotic Journey

LG didn't build CLOiD overnight. The company has spent years refining its "muscles" and "eyes" through a series of specialized service robots:

• CLOi GuideBot: The tall, friendly screens we’ve seen navigating airports and malls.
• CLOi ServeBot: The tray-carrying assistants that have become common in restaurants across Asia and the US.
• CLOi PorterBot: Specialized hospitality robots used for autonomous luggage handling in luxury hotels.

Strategically Shaping the Industry

Beyond its own products, LG has become a major player in the global humanoid race. In the lead-up to 2026, the company made strategic investments in AgiBot (the Chinese humanoid leader) and Figure AI, positioning itself as a key supplier of camera modules and sensor tech. By launching the AXIUM actuator brand alongside CLOiD, LG is signaling that it intends to control the most expensive part of the robot: the joints.

By turning the "Smart Home" into an "Autonomous Home," LG is proving that the next great appliance isn't one that just washes your clothes—it’s the one that picks them up and puts them away.

Why CLOiD Matters

Most humanoid companies are building "General Purpose" robots to replace workers. LG is building a "Specialized Partner" to enhance life.

By making CLOiD part of the ThinQ ecosystem, the robot doesn't just "see" your laundry; it knows exactly what cycle your LG Washer is on and when the dryer will be finished. It is the missing link that turns a "Smart Home" into an "Autonomous Home", a true "Zero Labor Home".