Humanoid Robotics Company Backed by OpenAI

Open AI has led a series A2 funding round for 1X Technologies, a robotics company designing humanoid robots.

In addition to the OpenAI Startup Fund, participating investors included Tiger Global and a group of Norway-based investors, including Sandwater, Alliance Ventures and Skagerak Capital. Funds raised in the round totaled $23.5 million.

1X’s main product is its bipedal humanoid robot, NEO, which it describes as “artificial intelligence tak[ing] form in a human-like body.” The company also has a wheeled, high-mobility robot called EVE.

The company says it intends to use the recent funds to progress plans to build a commercial iteration of NEO, as well as scale manufacturing of the first commercially available EVE in Norway and North America.

“Deploying our wheeled android EVE at an unprecedented commercial scale gives us a unique understanding of the challenges and opportunities the robotics community has yet to address,” said Bernt Øyvind Børnich, 1X Technologies’ CEO. “If androids are going to work in our world, they need to experience our world.”

These humanoid robots are primarily intended to step in for a dwindling labor force, though 1X has said the robots are designed to assist rather than replace human workers. 

“1X is at the forefront of augmenting labor through the use of safe, advanced technologies in robotics,” said Brad Lightcap, OpenAI’s COO. “The OpenAI Startup Fund believes in the approach and impact that 1X can have on the future of work.”

“Demographic changes will cause a labor shortage, and androids could help fill the gap,” said Arne Tonning, Alliance Venture partner. “Goldman Sachs predicts a $150 billion market potential in 2035. Solving the right use cases is key to success, and we believe 1X Technologies is constructing a winning alliance.”