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1X to Begin Neo Gamma Humanoid Robot Trials

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Norwegian robotics startup 1X has announced plans to initiate early trials of its humanoid robot, Neo Gamma, in “a few hundred to a few thousand” homes by the end of 2025.

Speaking at Nvidia GTC 2025, the company’s CEO, Bernt Børnich, confirmed, “Neo Gamma is going into homes this year. 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.”

Heightened Interest in Humanoid Robots

The buzz surrounding humanoid robots for home use has reached new levels recently.

Figure, a Bay Area competitor to 1X, announced in February that it would also begin home tests of its robots in 2025.

Shortly after, Bloomberg reported that Figure was seeking $1.5 billion in funding at an astonishing $40 billion valuation.

Meanwhile, OpenAI, a 1X investor, is said to be exploring the development of its own humanoid robots.

Read Also: Meta To Invest in AI-Powered Humanoid Robots

Challenges for the Nascent Industry

The introduction of humanoid robots into homes raises significant challenges for the fledgling industry.

Similar to the risks faced by autonomous vehicle startups with robotaxis, deploying robots in real-world environments could lead to unforeseen complications.

Acknowledging this, Børnich stated that Neo Gamma is far from achieving commercial scalability or full autonomy.

Dependence on Teleoperation for Early Testing

Neo Gamma utilises AI for basic tasks like walking and balancing, but it currently lacks fully autonomous movement capabilities.

To facilitate in-home testing, 1X is “bootstrapping the process” by relying on teleoperators — humans who can remotely monitor Neo Gamma’s sensors and cameras in real time and take control of its limbs when necessary.

Data Collection and In-House AI Training

The early trials aim to collect valuable data on how Neo Gamma functions in domestic settings.

This data will be used to train 1X’s in-house AI models and improve the robot’s capabilities.

Although 1X is backed by OpenAI, Børnich highlighted that the company primarily trains its core AI technology internally but “occasionally” co-trains models with partners like OpenAI and Nvidia.

Privacy Concerns and User Control

Collecting data from cameras and microphones inside users’ homes raises potential privacy issues.

A 1X spokesperson assured that users have control over when 1X employees can view Neo Gamma’s surroundings, whether for teleoperation or auditing purposes.

Prototype Features and Demonstrations 

Unveiled in February, Neo Gamma is the first bipedal robot prototype that 1X plans to test beyond the lab.

It boasts an improved onboard AI model and a knitted nylon body suit designed to minimize injuries during human interaction.

During a demo at GTC, Neo Gamma demonstrated basic tasks such as vacuuming, watering plants, and navigating a living room without bumping into furniture or people.

However, technical challenges arose, as the robot momentarily shook and collapsed, an issue attributed to spotty Wi-Fi and low battery by 1X staff.

Unclear Path to Market Readiness

Details about 1X’s early adopter program remain vague, and the company has yet to disclose its go-to-market strategy.

Though there is a waitlist on its website, it’s uncertain how Neo Gamma will function in homes without teleoperation.

A spokesperson noted that 1X plans to provide a “more thorough explanation” in the future.

While some users may test an early, human-assisted version of Neo Gamma this year, the widespread availability of fully autonomous humanoid robots for home use remains a vision for the distant future.

Manomsi Mallum 263 posts 0 comments
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