Norwegian startup begins home trials for humanoid robot

• Published On: 21 March 2025 at 20:21

1X, a Norwegian robotics startup, plans to conduct early trials of its Neo Gamma humanoid robot in hundreds to thousands of homes by the end of 2025, according to CEO Bernt Børnich.

"Neo Gamma is going into homes this year," Børnich stated in an interview at Nvidia GTC 2025. “We want early adopters to help us refine this system, allowing it to live and learn among people.”

Interest in humanoid home robots has recently increased. Figure, based in the Bay Area, announced in February that it will test its own humanoid robots in 2025. The company is reportedly in talks for a $1.5 billion funding round with a $40 billion valuation. OpenAI, a 1X investor, is also rumoured to be working on its own humanoid robot.

Despite the excitement, introducing humanoid robots into homes poses significant challenges, similar to the deployment of self-driving vehicles. Børnich acknowledges that Neo Gamma is still far from full autonomy. Currently, the robot uses AI for basic movement but needs human teleoperators to control its limbs in real time.

The in-home trials will provide data to help Neo Gamma improve its AI models. Despite being backed by OpenAI, 1X primarily develops AI technology in-house. The company assures users that they will have control over when employees can access Neo Gamma's sensors and cameras, thereby addressing privacy concerns.

Neo Gamma, introduced in February, is 1X's first bipedal robot prototype designed for real-world testing. It has an improved AI model and a nylon bodysuit for protection. A demonstration at GTC demonstrated its ability to hoover and water plants, but technical difficulties caused it to collapse at one point.

Details about 1X's early adopter program are unknown, but the company has established a waitlist for potential users. While limited trials are expected this year, the widespread adoption of autonomous humanoid robots is still years away.