Author’s Note: I’m a firm believer that robots should either help with the dishes or let me ride on their shoulders like a futuristic princess. With 1X’s NEO Gamma, we might be inching closer to the former (still waiting on the latter). This article is part of my Future Reference series, where I explore the cool, strange, and quietly revolutionary tech shaping our tomorrow. No buzzwords, no fluff. Just tech that actually makes life feel a little more sci-fi.
Most humanoid robots we’ve seen so far look like they escaped a sci-fi lab or are training for the robo-Olympics. Cool, yes. Cuddly and home-ready? Not quite.
But that’s exactly where 1X Technologies‘ latest reveal, NEO Gamma, wants to stand out. Unveiled in June 2025 and demoed live at NVIDIA’s GTC event, this next-gen bot isn’t just made to assist, it’s made to fit in.
Think of NEO Gamma as Wall-E’s taller, quieter cousin who politely helps clean up the house and might remind you to drink water.
What makes NEO Gamma different?
For starters, it’s not trying to wow you with cold metal or LED chest panels. NEO Gamma is designed to be soft, safe, and vaguely adorable. It’s covered in a 3D‑printed nylon “knit suit” that wouldn’t look out of place in a Muji catalog. This gives it a warm, textile look and a practical one, too. The soft shell helps protect your furniture, your pets, and your nerves.
Its head-mounted “emotive earrings” light up in response to voice interactions, like a subtle emoji display for its mood. Cute without being cartoonish.
Smart(ish), but supervised
While NEO Gamma can walk, squat, sit on chairs, and pick things up with near-human grace, it’s still not fully autonomous. A lot of its behavior relies on a combination of onboard AI and remote human oversight. Think of it as a very talented intern who occasionally asks for help via headset.
What’s impressive is the tech stack it runs on: 1X partnered with NVIDIA to tap into the new Isaac GR00T N1 foundation model, which allows robots like NEO Gamma to learn general-purpose behaviors much faster. It learns context, not just motions.
Built for home, not the factory
NEO Gamma reflects 1X’s focus on designing humanoid robots specifically for home environments, rather than limiting them to industrial spaces like warehouses. According to CEO Bernt Børnich, the only way to make robots truly useful in domestic settings is to train them in domestic settings.
In fact, 1X plans to start limited in-home trials in a few hundred to a few thousand homes by the end of 2025. If that goes well, you might find yourself living with a NEO Gamma sometime in the next few years though likely with some fine print and a human operator watching quietly in the background.
Also, it’s quiet
One of the most underappreciated features? It’s quiet. 1X managed to reduce operating noise by about 10 decibels compared to previous models. That’s roughly the difference between a humming fridge and a low-grade vacuum.
NEO Gamma won’t break the silence of your sleep or your cat’s nap.
What do we really want from robots?
As humanoid robots like NEO Gamma inch closer to our living rooms, it raises a quiet but important question:
Are we designing these machines to serve us or to resemble us?
A soft body, expressive ears, human-like gestures… these aren’t strictly necessary for utility. But they are necessary for comfort. We want robots to feel familiar. Non-threatening. Maybe even likable.
It’s a kind of tech theater. Less about efficiency, more about emotional choreography. More than folding your laundry, NEO Gamma is there to convince you it belongs. Sharing your space, your air, and your everyday rhythms.
Some experts now believe we’ll see fully autonomous AI systems by 2027. Not just robots that follow instructions, but machines that can learn, adapt, and act independently. The hardware is catching up fast. The software’s already knocking.
Even companies like NVIDIA and 1X are building the groundwork for this shift, with foundational models and physically capable robots already deployed in pilot settings.
Should we be scared?
Maybe a little. But maybe fear isn’t the most useful instinct right now. The more relevant question might be: Are we ready to be in relationships with machines? Not in a dystopian way, but in a real, domestic, Tuesday-morning kind of way. One where we cohabitate with intelligence that doesn’t eat, sleep, or need reminding to water the plants.
It’s not about fearing the robot uprising. It’s about figuring out if we’re emotionally and ethically equipped for coexistence.
So is this the future?
Not quite Jetsons-level yet. But NEO Gamma is a strong signal that we’re shifting from robotics as spectacle to robotics as service. The conversation is shifting from what robots can do to how naturally they can fit into our lives without turning every moment into a tech demo
With its quiet demeanor, squishy looks, and AI-powered coordination, NEO Gamma feels less like a prototype and more like a possible roommate.
Just don’t expect it to pay rent. Yet.
