Norwegian robotics startup 1X is set to take a significant leap in the development of its humanoid robot, Neo Gamma, with plans to test the robot in "a few hundred to a few thousand" homes by the end of 2025. According to CEO Bernt Børnich, the company aims to invite early adopters to help develop the system and teach it how to behave in a home environment.

The move comes as the hype around humanoid robots for the home reaches new heights, with competitors like Figure, a Bay Area-based startup, also announcing plans to begin home tests of its humanoid robots in 2025. Figure is reportedly in talks for a $1.5 billion fundraise at a valuation of $40 billion, highlighting the growing interest in this space.

However, putting heavy metal robots into people's homes raises the stakes for the nascent industry, and Børnich is aware that Neo Gamma is still a long way off from commercial scaling and autonomy. The robot is not fully capable of autonomous movements today, and 1X is relying on teleoperators – humans in remote locations who can view Neo Gamma's cameras and sensors in real-time and take control of its limbs – to make in-home tests possible.

The in-home tests will allow 1X to collect data on how Neo Gamma operates in the home, which will be used to train in-house AI models and upgrade the robot's capabilities. Early adopters will play a crucial role in creating a large, valuable dataset that 1X can use to improve Neo Gamma.

While backed by OpenAI, 1X trains its core AI technology in-house today and occasionally co-trains AI models with partners, including OpenAI and Nvidia. However, collecting data from microphones and cameras inside people's homes raises privacy concerns, and 1X has implemented measures to address these concerns, allowing customers to decide when a 1X employee can view Neo Gamma's surroundings.

Neo Gamma, unveiled in February, is the first bipedal robot prototype that 1X plans to test outside of the lab. Compared to its predecessor, Neo Beta, Neo Gamma features an improved onboard AI model and a knitted nylon body suit designed to reduce potential injuries from robot-to-human contact.

Demonstrated at Nvidia GTC 2025, Neo Gamma showcased its ability to perform basic tasks in a living room setting, partially powered by a human operator. While the demo was impressive, it wasn't without its flaws, with the robot shaking and collapsing into Børnich's arms at one point, attributed to spotty Wi-Fi and low battery.

Details about 1X's early adopter program are still unclear, and the company has yet to reveal its go-to-market strategy for Neo Gamma. However, with a waitlist on its website, it's evident that there is significant interest in the robot. While we may be many years away from autonomous humanoid robots that can be bought off the shelf, 1X's plans mark a significant milestone in the development of this technology.

As the industry moves forward, it will be crucial to address the challenges and concerns that come with introducing robots into people's homes. With companies like 1X, Figure, and OpenAI pushing the boundaries of what is possible, it will be exciting to see how this technology evolves and shapes the future of robotics.