Robot maker 1X has secured $100mn in funding to bring its humanoid android named Neo to consumer homes. The Norwegian startup aims to create a versatile and intelligent home assistant that can perform everyday domestic tasks, such as laundry and tidying. Neo is designed with various human attributes, including a form and height similar to humans, as well as dexterous hands capable of lifting heavy weights. Unlike industrial machines, Neo is soft, light, and inherently safe, making it suitable for deployment in households. The robot learns new household tasks through embodied AI, allowing it to acquire skills by interacting with its environment.
1X’s previous creation, the robot named Eve, was designed for enterprise applications and has excelled in warehouse logistics and security. With Neo, the company aims to develop a general-purpose bot that seamlessly integrates into people’s everyday lives. Customers will be able to control Neo manually using virtual reality headsets and controllers, and can also engage in conversation with the robot through its conversational functionality.
The funding for Neo’s development comes from a Series B round, with investors including EQT Ventures and OpenAI, a leading investor that has provided insights into future AI developments and trends. While a target launch date for Neo has not been disclosed, 1X expects preorders to open in the near future. The company’s CEO, Bernt Øivind Børnich, envisions a future where commercial androids like Neo benefit society by working alongside humans, freeing up their time, and improving global living standards.
This latest development from 1X brings the prospect of androids assimilating into consumer households closer to reality. While the idea may seem like something out of a science fiction movie, investors and industry experts predict that robots like Neo could be walking among us within the next five to seven years. With an influx of funding, 1X is sprinting ahead to make that vision a reality, focusing on deploying safe and useful robots that enhance workplaces and lives.
As the world eagerly awaits the launch of Neo, it is clear that the once-distant dream of having a versatile and intelligent home assistant is becoming a tangible reality. The potential impact of humanoid androids like Neo extends beyond mere domestic tasks, as they have the potential to transform industries and address labor demands. With further advancements in AI and robotics, the integration of humanoids into our daily lives may be closer than we think, bringing us closer to a future where humans and robots coexist.
