Norwegian robotics startup 1X is gearing up to launch early trials of its humanoid robot, Neo Gamma, in “a few hundred to a few thousand” homes by the end of 2025. This initiative was confirmed by the company’s CEO, Bernt Børnich, in an interview with TechCrunch during Nvidia GTC 2025.
“Neo Gamma is going into homes this year,” Børnich stated. “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.”
Growing Excitement Around Home Robots
In recent months, enthusiasm for humanoid robots designed for home environments has significantly increased. Competitor Figure, based in the Bay Area and known for its strong social media presence, announced in February that it would begin similar home testing in 2025. Shortly after, Bloomberg reported that Figure was in discussions for a $1.5 billion funding round with a potential $40 billion valuation. Meanwhile, OpenAI — an investor in 1X — is also rumored to be exploring humanoid robotics.
This growing interest places considerable pressure on the still-developing industry. Much like autonomous vehicles, integrating humanoid robots into everyday settings presents considerable technical and safety challenges. When things go wrong, they can do so very quickly.
Neo Gamma’s Capabilities and Limitations
Despite the excitement, Børnich is transparent about Neo Gamma’s current limitations. The robot is far from achieving full autonomy or being ready for mass market distribution.
Though Neo Gamma uses AI to walk and maintain balance, it cannot yet operate completely independently. To enable these early home trials, 1X is depending on teleoperation — remote human operators who can view the robot’s surroundings through its cameras and sensors in real time and directly control its limbs as needed.
These trials are essential for collecting data on how the robot functions in actual home environments. Early adopters will contribute to a valuable dataset that 1X can use to improve its in-house AI models and enhance Neo Gamma’s performance.
AI Development and Privacy Measures
Although OpenAI supports the project, Børnich emphasized that 1X develops its core AI technology internally. Occasionally, the company co-trains models with partners like OpenAI and Nvidia.
As expected, gathering data through cameras and microphones inside private homes brings up serious privacy concerns. In response, a company spokesperson noted that users have control over when 1X employees can access Neo Gamma’s live feed, whether for auditing or teleoperation purposes.
From Lab to Living Room
Unveiled in February, Neo Gamma is the company’s first bipedal robot intended for real-world testing beyond laboratory settings. Compared to its predecessor, Neo Beta, Neo Gamma features a more advanced onboard AI system and a soft, knitted nylon body suit designed to minimize harm in case of human contact.
During a live demonstration at GTC, 1X showcased the robot performing simple household tasks like vacuuming, watering plants, and moving around a room without colliding with furniture or people. These actions were partially directed by a human operator. Despite some successes, the demo wasn’t without flaws — at one point, the robot shook uncontrollably before collapsing into Børnich’s arms. A 1X staff member attributed the incident to poor Wi-Fi connectivity and a low battery.
Questions Remain About Rollout
Similar to Figure’s program, 1X has not shared detailed information about its early adopter strategy. The company hasn’t announced a clear market entry plan for Neo Gamma, though it has opened a waitlist on its website. A spokesperson promised a “more thorough explanation” in the near future.
While some hundreds or thousands of users may get to try an early, human-assisted version of Neo Gamma by the end of 2025, fully autonomous, commercially available humanoid robots still appear to be years away from becoming a reality.
