S-BOT-LESS
Eerie humanoid can clean and carry groceries – as OpenAI-backed startup aims to build million-strong ‘robot workforce’
While only a few robots will be released for now, the developer hopes to see 'millions' in the home by 2028
A HUMANOID helper will soon be able to perform chores around your home - and its developer hopes to release millions to create a robot workforce.
The creator, 1X Technologies, has released a prototype of the cutting-edge robot, which is said to be designed for home use.
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In its mission statement, the company has pledged to create "an abundant supply of labor via safe, intelligent robots."
1X boasts headquarters in Norway and San Francisco. It is best known for securing support from OpenAI, the artificial intelligence pioneer behind ChatGPT.
The company's latest creation, NEO Beta, will reportedly be able to perform "physical labor" like carrying groceries and tidying your home.
The robot is just over 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs 66 pounds. Despite its light frame, it can carry up to 44 pounds.
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The NEO is also equipped with human-like speed, walking 2.5 miles an hour and sprinting 7.5 miles an hour. A full charge currently lasts between two and four hours.
In a promotional video, the humanoid is seen lifting a person's bag before they embrace.
As the duo poses for the camera, the robot lifts one hand and waves.
The groundbreaking synthetic assistant has its roots in earlier technologies, such as Honda's ASIMO, which could walk, climb stairs, and perform other basic motor functions.
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CEO Bernt Børnich has repeatedly stressed the company's focus on safety.
He says this virtue guides NEO's rollout plan. A limited number will be deployed this year to collect information about how the robot operates under real-world conditions.
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However, the company intends to ramp up efforts over the next few years, vowing to release “hundreds of thousands” by 2027 and “millions” by 2028.
Much of NEO's popularity will depend on its cost. 1X has not released pricing information, but the robot is expected to cost around the amount of a "relatively affordable car."
There is no shortage of virtual assistants on the market.
Voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Siri can answer common queries, while AI-equipped assistants like Google Gemini can write emails and take notes during meetings.
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1X aims to take this idea further by blending the lines between biology and robotics.
"We believe that to serve our world, humanoids need to experience our world," reads a statement on the company's website.
"That’s why 1X’s products are inspired by human nature, inside and out."
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Earlier this year, the company announced that it had raised $100 million in its Series B funding round from a list of tech giants, including Samsung.
Formerly known as Halodi Robotics, 1X Technologies was founded over a decade ago to build general-purpose bipedal robots.
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The startup partnered with OpenAI in 2022 to add artificial intelligence functionality to some machines.
This includes Eve, the company's wheeled robot, which works with businesses to move equipment, open doors, and more.
Biohybrid robots: an overview
Biohybrid robots blend biological and artificial systems, such as living tissues with robotics, to create machines that leverage the strengths of both worlds.
These robots aim to combine the adaptability and efficiency of biological systems with the precision and functionality of robotic systems.
Some biohybrids use living components like muscle cells, to control or power robotic elements. For instance, researchers have developed robots with muscle tissue that can contract and move in response to electrical stimuli, enabling more natural and flexible movements.
Another approach involves creating interfaces between biological tissues and synthetic components, such as sensors or actuators. This allows the robot to harness biological signals or reactions to control its actions.
Other biohybrid robots are designed to mimic biological organisms. They may use principles observed in nature, like the way a jellyfish propels itself, to create more efficient or adaptable robotic systems.
Applications of biohybrid robots are diverse, ranging from medical devices and prosthetics to environmental monitoring and exploration.
Biohybrids can be used to create more lifelike prosthetics that better integrate with human tissue or to develop robots that can navigate delicate environments with greater dexterity.
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