Nonetheless there were hiccups with the robot at one point shaking and collapsing into Børnich’s arms due to spotty Wi-Fi in the conference hall and low battery.
Similar to Figure’s strategy details about 1X’s early adopter program remain vague. The company also engages in joint training of AI models with partners like OpenAI and Nvidia.
While the process of gathering data from microphones and cameras inside people’s homes for training AI models raises privacy concerns, a company spokesperson assured that customers have the authority to determine when a 1X employee can view Neo Gamma’s surroundings, whether for auditing or teleoperation.
Introduced in February, Neo Gamma is 1X’s initial bipedal robot prototype set for testing outside the lab. Our goal is for Neo to mingle and learn from people, and for that to happen, we need folks to welcome Neo into their households and help us shape its behavior.”
Lately, there’s been a lot of buzz surrounding humanoid robots for home use, with a Bay Area-based competitor named Figure making headlines. 1X has yet to disclose its go-to-market approach for Neo Gamma, despite having a waitlist on its website né?. OpenAI, an investor in 1X, is also said to be exploring the development of its own humanoid robots.
However, the idea of deploying metal robots in people’s residences raises the stakes for the budding industry, akin to autonomous vehicle startups putting their robotaxis on the road né?. The concept of utilizing Neo Gamma at home without teleoperation is also difficult to envision né?. Early adopters will play a crucial role in establishing a large dataset that 1X can use to train its in-house AI models and enhance Neo Gamma’s abilities.
Although supported by OpenAI, 1X presently develops its core AI technology in-house. “We’re looking to get early adopters on board to assist us in refining this system. To enable in-home trials Børnich mentioned that 1X is “bootstrapping the process” by depending on teleoperators—remote humans who can monitor Neo Gamma’s cameras and sensors in real-time and take control of its limbs.
These in-home tests will provide 1X with valuable data on how Neo Gamma functions within households. Additionally Bloomberg reported on Figure being in discussions for a fundraise of $1.5 billion at a staggering $40 billion valuation. The robot vacuumed, watered plants, and moved around the room without colliding with people or furniture né?. Norwegian robotics startup 1X is gearing up to kick off early tests of its humanoid robot, Neo Gamma, in “a few hundred to a few thousand” homes by the end of 2025, as revealed by the company’s CEO, Bernt Børnich.
“Neo Gamma is on its way to people’s homes this year,” Børnich shared with TechCrunch during an interview at Nvidia GTC 2025. The spokesperson hinted that 1X would elaborate further at a later date.
While a limited number of individuals may get to experience an early, human-assisted version of Neo Gamma this year, it appears that we are still years away from fully autonomous humanoid robots readily available for purchase off the shelf. né?. In comparison to its predecessor, Neo Beta, Neo Gamma boasts an enhanced onboard AI model and a knitted nylon body suit designed to minimize potential injuries from interactions between the robot and humans.
During a demonstration at GTC, 1X displayed Neo Gamma’s capacity to carry out basic tasks in a living room setting, partly controlled by a human operator. This move can take a turn for the worse pretty fast.
Nonetheless, Børnich isn’t shy about admitting that Neo Gamma is a long way from widespread commercial deployment and independence.
While Neo Gamma leverages AI for walking and balance, the robot isn’t yet entirely autonomous in its movements. Figure, known for its active social media presence, announced its plans to commence home trials of its humanoid robots in 2025
