1X Set to Launch Humanoid Robot Trials in Hundreds of Homes by 2025
Norwegian robotics startup 1X is gearing up to launch early testing of its innovative humanoid robot, Neo Gamma, in “a few hundred to a few thousand” households by the end of 2025. This ambitious plan was revealed by the company’s CEO, Bernt Børnich, during an insightful interview with TechCrunch at the Nvidia GTC 2025 event.
Neo Gamma’s Introduction into Homes
Børnich expressed excitement about bringing Neo Gamma into homes this year, stating, “We want to invite early adopters in this year to help us develop this system. We want it to live and learn among people, and to do that, we need people to take Neo into their home and help us teach it how to behave.”
Rising Interest in Humanoid Robots
The buzz surrounding humanoid robots for domestic environments has significantly intensified in recent months. Competitors, such as Figure, based in the Bay Area, announced plans to conduct home tests of their humanoid robots in 2025. In a notable development, Bloomberg reported that Figure is in discussions for a substantial $1.5 billion fundraising round, with a staggering valuation of $40 billion.
Challenges in the Humanoid Robotics Industry
Introducing heavy metal robots into homes raises considerable challenges for the emerging industry, akin to the hurdles faced by autonomous vehicle startups deploying robotaxis. Børnich candidly acknowledged that Neo Gamma is not yet ready for commercial scaling or full autonomy.
Testing and Data Collection
While Neo Gamma employs AI for walking and balancing, it currently lacks the ability for completely autonomous movements. To facilitate in-home testing, 1X is utilizing a “bootstrapping” process that involves teleoperators—remote human operators who can monitor Neo Gamma’s cameras and sensors in real-time and control its movements as necessary.
- Early adopters will help generate a valuable dataset.
- This data will be instrumental in training AI models for future upgrades.
- 1X aims to enhance Neo Gamma’s capabilities through this data collection.
Privacy Considerations
The collection of data from microphones and cameras in homes raises significant privacy concerns. In response to inquiries, a spokesperson for 1X stated that customers have control over when a 1X employee can access Neo Gamma’s surroundings for auditing or teleoperation purposes.
Features of Neo Gamma
Unveiled in February, Neo Gamma is the first bipedal robot prototype that 1X intends to test outside of a laboratory environment. It boasts an enhanced onboard AI model and a knitted nylon bodysuit designed to minimize injury risks from robot-to-human interactions.
Demonstration at GTC
During a demonstration at GTC, 1X showcased Neo Gamma’s capacity to perform basic tasks in a living room environment, including:
- Vacuuming
- Watering plants
- Navigating around the room without collisions
Despite its capabilities, Neo Gamma experienced some issues during the demo, attributed to poor Wi-Fi and low battery levels.
Future Plans for Early Adopters
While the specifics of 1X’s early adopter program remain uncertain, the company has established a waitlist on its website. Although a few hundred or thousand individuals may soon have the opportunity to experience a human-assisted version of Neo Gamma, the journey towards fully autonomous humanoid robots available for purchase is still several years away.
For more information about 1X and their ongoing projects, visit their official website at 1X Robotics.
