Android Manufacturer 1X Secures $100 Million in Funding

The artificial intelligence and robotics-focused company 1X has closed a Series B funding round, raising $100 million with participation from EQT Ventures.

The project’s main product is androids that “serve society and meet the global demand for labor.”

“We are thrilled that leading investors support 1X’s mission to safely introduce androids with programmable behavior to new markets. Our next milestone will be scaling our data collection strategy for Embodied AI and launching the [new robot] NEO for consumers,” said the company’s CEO, Bernt Øyvind Børnich.

The funds will be used by 1X to develop second-generation androids—NEO. This bipedal robot is designed for a wide range of household tasks. The development features a built-in learning mechanism and is positioned as “safe to work among humans.”

1X already has the multitasking robot EVE available to the public, which moves on wheels.

In March 2023, 1X raised $125 million in a Series A round led by OpenAI and Tiger Global. The company also attracted other major investors, including Sandwater, Samsung NEXT, Skagerak Capital, and Nistad Group.

“From Leonardo da Vinci to modern science fiction, people have dreamed of humanoid robots for over 500 years. It is an honor for me to witness cutting-edge technology taking shape before our eyes. The impact of androids joining our workforce on our terms will be transformative (to say the least),” emphasized EQT Ventures partner Ted Persson. 

Earlier, Tesla developed a new prototype of the humanoid robot Tesla Optimus, which is lighter and faster than previous versions. 

Last year, Nvidia introduced the AI tool Eureka, significantly improving the “dexterity” of robots. The neural network trains mechanisms in complex skills such as turning a handle.