NEO Gamma isn’t just an upgrade from its NEO Beta predecessor—it’s a bold stride toward a future where robots feel less like machines and more like housemates. With natural movements, advanced AI, and a safety-first approach, NEO Gamma is more than just a robot—it’s a vision of a future where humanoid companions become as commonplace as smartphones. With this launch, the company has set a new benchmark in the humanoid robotics industry, raising the bar for immediate competitors.

Bernt Bornich, CEO 1X Technology, “There is a not-so-distant future where we all have our own robot helper at home, like Rosey the Robot or Baymax. But for humanoid robots to truly integrate into everyday life, they must be developed alongside humans, not in isolation.

The home provides real-world context and the diversity of data needed for humanoids to grow in intelligence and autonomy. It also teaches them the nuances of human life—how to open the door for the elderly, move carefully around pets, or adapt to the unpredictability of the surrounding world. Robots confined to industrial space or lab development miss out on this critical understanding.

With NEO Gamma, every engineering and design decision was made with one goal in mind: getting NEO into customers’ homes as quickly as possible… We’re close. We can’t wait to share more soon.”

Let’s dive into their journey, the brains behind it, and when you might see NEO Gamma at your door.

Check out the video to see this next-gen humanoid in action—and imagine what it could mean for your life.

The Journey of 1X: From Vision to Reality

Founded in 2014 as Halodi Robotics, 1X Technologies emerged from Moss, Norway, with a bold vision—to transform everyday life through safe, intelligent humanoid companions. Now headquartered in both Norway and the San Francisco Bay Area, the company has spent over a decade perfecting its approach to robotics.

In 2022, 1X introduced the EVE robot, widely recognized as “Eve Industrial,” a wheeled humanoid designed for factory environments. Deployed globally, it autonomously performed industrial tasks in customer facilities, proving its value in commercial settings like security and logistics etc.

Building on its success in industrial robotics, the company recognized in 2023 that true machine intelligence required a more holistic understanding of the world. Shifting focus to the home, 1X began developing NEO—a humanoid designed to live and learn among humans. The company unveiled NEO Beta, marking its commitment to building robots capable of seamlessly navigating complex human environments, particularly households.

The shift to NEO — a bipedal, consumer-oriented humanoid—was a game-changer. Introduced as NEO Beta in August 2024, the robot demonstrated remarkable dexterity, effortlessly unpacking wine glasses and handling eggs with human-like precision. Its evolution continued with NEO Gamma, an enhanced version designed specifically for home use. This iterative approach—test, learn, improve—drives 1X Technologies forward, bringing it closer to its vision of an “abundant supply of labor” through robotics. With each advancement, the company moves one step closer to making humanoid companions a reality in homes across the U.S.

The Visionary Behind 1X: Bernt Børnich (The Mastermind)

Leading the charge is Bernt Oyvid Børnich, a Norwegian entrepreneur whose obsession with safe, practical robotics fuels 1X. Børnich’s philosophy centers on safety and real-world integration. “For humanoid robots to truly integrate into everyday life, they must be developed alongside humans, not in isolation,” he said in a recent statement. His belief that homes provide the ideal training ground for robots—offering diverse, unpredictable scenarios—sets 1X apart from competitors focusing on industrial applications.

Børnich’s leadership has propelled 1X from a niche startup to a global contender in the humanoid robotics race. His pragmatic yet ambitious approach has attracted top talent and significant investment, fueling the company’s rapid growth.

Powerhouse Investors Fueling the Dream

1X’s journey has been bolstered by an impressive roster of investors. In January 2024, the company secured $100 million in a Series B funding round led by EQT Ventures and other notable global investors. “We are thrilled that these leading investors are supporting 1X’s mission of safely deploying Androids with Smart Behavior into new markets. Our next milestone will be scaling our data collection strategy for Embodied AI and offering NEO to consumers,” says Bernt Øivind Børnich, CEO of 1X after Series B funding round.

After successfully completing a Series A funding round led by OpenAI and Tiger Global in March 2023, bringing their total funding to over $125 million in less than a year.

This followed a Series A round in March 2023, spearheaded by OpenAI and Tiger Global, bringing their total funding to over $125 million in less than a year. OpenAI’s early backing—highlighted by their continued interest in embodied AI—underscored 1X’s potential to merge cutting-edge artificial intelligence with physical robotics.

This funding will support their mission to produce safe and advanced androids at a commercial scale, aiming to meet global labor demands and build an abundant society. As part of the round, 1X also facilitated a significant secondary transaction in which existing investor Sandwater increased its stake with the third largest contribution to the round. Other secondary participants included new investor Samsung NEXT, and existing investors Skagerak Capital and the Nistad group.

“From Leonardo da Vinci, to today’s sci-fi, humans have dreamt of humanoid robots for more than 500 years. It’s a privilege to witness the enabling technologies form in front of our eyes, in real-time. The impact of androids joining our human workforce, on our terms will be transformative (to say the least). We’re convinced 1X with their NEO androids will play a crucial role in the pioneering steps towards the first forays of our technological and human future,” says Ted Persson, Partner, EQT Ventures after Series B funding.

The acquisition of Palo Alto based robotics startup founded by Christoph Kohstall, "Kind Humanoid" in January 2025 further strengthened 1X’s AI capabilities, aligning with their goal of creating robots that not only move like humans but communicate naturally too. These investments and partnerships reflect confidence in 1X’s unique focus on home robotics—a niche yet promising frontier.

NEO Gamma: What Makes It Next-Gen?

The NEO Gamma video, released alongside the announcement, offers a tantalizing look at what this humanoid can do. Unlike the stiff, industrial robots of the past, NEO Gamma moves with a natural gait, swinging its arms as it walks, squatting to pick up objects, and even sitting in chairs. Its whole-body controller, running at 100Hz and trained with reinforcement learning from human motion-capture data, enables fluid, human-like motion—a leap forward from NEO Beta.

The robot’s AI has seen major upgrades too. A custom-built language model powers its conversational abilities, allowing it to chat with users naturally, while an improved visual manipulation model lets it handle a wide variety of objects, even in unfamiliar settings. Hardware enhancements include a 10x boost in reliability and a 10-decibel noise reduction, making NEO Gamma as quiet as a refrigerator—an essential trait for a home companion.

Safety remains a cornerstone. Encased in soft, knitted nylon covers, NEO Gamma minimizes injury risks, and its teleoperation feature ensures humans can take control if needed. Emotive “Ear Rings” add a touch of personality, signaling its status and enhancing communication. From retrieving a backpack to navigating a cluttered living room, NEO Gamma is designed to blend into daily life rather than disrupt it.

Key improvements

• Consumer-friendly domestic design

NEO Gamma's new design features Emotive Ear Rings to improve the communication and has a minimalist design aesthetic that fits into the home.

• Multipurpose whole-body controller

NEO can now walk with a natural human gait and arm swings, squat down to pick things up from the ground and sit in chairs.

• Soft covers improve safety

NEO Gamma comes outfitted with soft covers to reduce impact on the surrounding environment and increase overall safety.

• Improved general-purpose manipulation

1X trained a visual manipulation model capable of picking up a large variety of objects in different scenarios, including environments not seen during training.

• 1X developed language model

NEO Gamma’s Companion feature set integrates a new in-house language model that enables natural conversation and body language.

NEO Gamma’s design opens the door to start internal home testing—a first step in creating fully autonomous humanoids.

Artificial intelligence

NEO Gamma introduces a number of AI advancements, enhancing both autonomy and safe teleoperation in the home.

• Multipurpose whole-body controller

NEO now walks with a natural human gait and arm swings, squat down to pick things up from the ground and sit in chairs, all while maintaining balance. These dynamic control skills – running at 100Hz – are learned using Reinforcement Learning from human motion capture data. This range of motion allows NEO Gamma to experience household scenarios and tasks that would be otherwise inaccessible to other robot form factors.

• Improved general-purpose manipulation

1X trained a visual manipulation model capable of picking up a large variety of objects in different scenarios, including environments not seen during training. NEO Gamma leverages neural networks trained to predict teleoperated actions directly from raw sensor data.

• 1X developed language model

NEO Gamma’s Companion feature set integrates a conversational voice interface, allowing users to converse naturally with a 1X developed language model (LLM). These developments bring NEO closer to human-friendly user interaction, bridging the gap between humanoid robotics and daily life.

Design

NEO Gamma is designed to be approachable, with all new features created to integrate seamlessly into people’s everyday lives. NEO’s new look aims to complement living spaces rather than disrupt them.

• Emotive Ear Rings

NEO Gamma’s Ear Rings provide real-time visual feedback for a more intuitive and interactive experience.

• NEO’s Knit Suit & Shoes

3D printed from durable and soft nylon using a Japanese Shimaseki machine, the suit utilizes a unique whole-garment seamless knitting process that allows the fabric to conform to NEO without impeding performance.

• Soft Covers

With safety as the top priority, NEO Gamma features 1X’s Tendon Drive for joint actuation, encased in soft covers to enhance passive safety.

When Will NEO Gamma Be Commercially Available?

While the video showcases dazzles with possibilities, NEO Gamma launched its campaign with “NEO In Your Home.” The company continues its private early access program, gradually inviting select members of the public to be among the first to experience NEO at home. On their website, they have introduced an "Experience Humanoid" section, allowing customers to join the waitlist and opt-in for updates.

However, the company has yet to disclose production numbers or a definitive timeline for large scale commercial deployment.

Industry experts suggest that scaling from a prototype to a market-ready product could take years, with key challenges ahead, including reliability, safety certification, and cost reduction. However we’re waiting for the finer details from the company’s side.

Competitors like Tesla (Optimus) and Figure AI are targeting industrial rollouts first, with consumer versions potentially years away. 1X’s home-first strategy might accelerate this timeline, but affordability remains a hurdle for all the entrant in this space. Tesla’s Elon Musk has pegged Optimus at under $20,000, while Unitree’s G1 retails for $16,000—benchmarks 1X will need to match or beat as per the Industry experts in this field. For now, NEO Gamma’s large scale commercial debut will be one of closely watched events in humanoid robot space. All eyes on Bernt Børnich next move after his message, “Getting NEO into customers’ homes as quickly as possible. We’re close. We can’t wait to share more soon.”

Beyond the Hype: What’s Next for 1X?

1X faces stiff competition from the likes of Boston Dynamics, Agility Robotics, and Figure AI, many of whom prioritize warehouses over living rooms. Yet, 1X’s home-centric approach—backed by OpenAI’s AI expertise and a growing team of over a dozen full-time operators refining its systems—offers a fresh perspective. The NEO Gamma video isn’t just a demo; it’s a promise of a future where robots adapt to us, not the other way around.

As the world ages and labor demands shift, NEO Gamma could become more than a novelty—it might be a necessity. For now, 1X invites us to dream alongside them, watching as NEO Gamma takes its first steps into our homes.