April 5, 2025 — Humanoid robots are stepping out of labs and into real homes. That future got closer this week.
Bernt Øyvind Børnich, CEO of 1X Technologies, announced a major production milestone. The company hit a new weekly record for building its flagship robot, NEO Gamma.
“Hit a weekly production record for NEO Gamma this week. Amazing work by the 1X team,” Børnich shared.
“Driving down that $/hour of highly diverse data.”
This update points to more than just manufacturing speed. It signals a growing effort to get humanoids into everyday life.
From Norway to Silicon Valley
1X Technologies began as Halodi Robotics in 2014. Børnich started the company with a clear goal: to build general-purpose robots that can live with humans and support them.
Today, 1X operates in Norway and Silicon Valley, combining robotics engineering with advanced AI research. Its mission remains the same—create humanoid robots that elevate human life.
Robots Must Learn Like Humans Do
1X believes real-world learning is essential. Robots need to live among people to grow smarter and more useful.
According to Børnich, “Robots confined to labs miss out on key learning. They can’t understand daily human behavior from a distance.”
That belief drives every decision at 1X. And it’s the reason NEO Gamma is going into homes this year.
From Factories to Families
The journey began with EVE, a wheeled humanoid robot deployed in factories in 2022. It performed simple industrial tasks without needing full supervision.
By 2023, 1X saw a bigger opportunity—robots in the home. The team began building NEO, a bipedal humanoid for daily life.
They unveiled NEO Beta in 2024. Then in early 2025, NEO Gamma made its debut at Nvidia’s GTC event.
Now, 1X is preparing to place NEO Gamma in hundreds—or even thousands—of homes this year.
“Neo Gamma is going into homes this year,” Børnich told TechCrunch.
“We need people to help it learn how to behave.”
Getting Ready for the Real World
NEO Gamma is not fully autonomous yet. It uses AI to walk, balance, and move around. However, it still needs help.
1X is using teleoperation to guide the robot when needed. Human operators monitor NEO Gamma through cameras and sensors. They take control if the robot gets stuck or confused.
This setup helps the robot stay safe and useful while it learns.
Why NEO Gamma Stands Out
NEO Gamma is built for life at home. Every part of its design focuses on safety, learning, and comfort:
- Soft materials reduce injury risk and protect furniture.
- Emotive Ear Rings offer visual signals to communicate mood or intent.
- Natural gait lets it walk, squat, and sit like a person.
- Visual manipulation AI helps it handle a wide range of objects.
- In-house language model enables natural speech and physical gestures.
During a GTC demo, the robot vacuumed, watered plants, and navigated a living room. It even avoided bumping into furniture or people.
At one point, it froze and collapsed due to poor Wi-Fi and low battery. The team quickly addressed the issue and resumed the demo.
A Crowded Race for the Humanoid Future
1X is not alone in this space. Bay Area rival Figure plans home tests this year. The company is rumored to be raising $1.5 billion at a $40 billion valuation.
Meanwhile, investor OpenAI is said to be exploring its own humanoid robot projects. Even with strong competition, 1X is staying focused.
Its approach is clear: build robots that live among people—not just perform in labs.
What’s Next?
1X has opened a waitlist for its early access program. It will share more launch details later this year. For now, only a few hundred or thousand homes will get the first NEO Gamma units.
These robots will still rely on human assistance. However, the data they collect will drive massive improvements.
NEO Gamma’s early users will help shape the robot’s future abilities.
“There’s a not-so-distant future where we all have robot helpers,” said Børnich.
“Like Rosey the Robot or Baymax. But to get there, we must build alongside people.”
