A robot that could work as a nurse or bartender and use its human-like arms to pick up objects is already in use in the US, the CEO of a company funded by OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, has revealed.
Speaking exclusively to , Bernt Bornich, CEO and founder of 1X, says his company’s humanoid EVE robot has been working since April this year – and that it’s “doing better than we thought”.
It’s the first truly humanoid android to find a place in the workplace in human history – surpassing Elon Musk’s hyped Tesla robot.
The robot is currently working as a security guard at two industrial sites: Unlike other security robots, it has a head, a face, two arms and can navigate autonomously.
Bornich with EVE – 10 robots are produced every month (1X)
Pictured above is the EVE robot opening a window
Security forces control a fleet of patrolling EVE androids, which are manufactured at two sites in Norway and Dallas, and if anything happens to one of the units, they can ‘enter’ the android’s body via virtual reality.
“You’re there in a second, as if you were there,” says Bornich. He hopes that the robots will soon find work as geriatric nurses.
Bornich says: “We have this big vision, we want to solve the problem of the labor shortage.” We know how to solve the problem – but we need a lot of data.
“I think we’re going to have a completely different society, where we don’t think about labor shortages, where we have sustainable energy production that can be turned into any product and service.”
“We could get there in five years if we don’t face obstacles, or within this decade.” It’s going to be an exciting future.’
Non-humanoid robots that resemble the shape of humans have been used for security purposes for years.
These include the egg-shaped K5 from Californian company Knightscope and the two-wheeled robot from start-up Ascento, which patrols train stations in Switzerland.
But unlike the others, the new humanoid robot has manipulators — a sort of robotic hand — that allow it to open doors and windows and pick up objects.
Speaking exclusively to , Mr Bornich said: “Previous generations of androids worked in the lab but not in the real world.”
“With our security forces, we solve a real problem and offer them a better quality and more affordable service.”
The EVE robot is in use at two locations in Europe and America and has also been tested as a care or nursing robot for the elderly.
Mr Bornick said that unlike previous android robots – which he described as “gimmicks” – his will actually serves a real function in society.
He added that when testing, humans tended to avoid the wheeled robots. They have been tested in retail, logistics and healthcare centers, among others.
“It made sense to start guarding,” Mr. Bornich said. “It has the least amount of tasks.”
“Everything you do helps train the system to do those jobs better so you don’t have to intervene because it knows how to do it.”
When asked about the benefits of the devices, he said they could help “solve” the labor shortage in just five years.
The robot is 1.70 meters tall (1X).
Next year, the company hopes to launch NEO, a two-legged robot (1X).
Elon Musk’s rival Tesla robot is not yet in use
Other security robots already in use include the Ascento Robot in Switzerland (left) and the K5 autonomous security robot in Charlotte, North Carolina
The company is already working on an alternative robot called NEO, which would be bipedal and walk like a human.
Currently, 1.1 million people work as security forces in the United States.
Mr. Bornich said: “We have this big vision: We want to solve the problem of labor shortages.” We know how to solve the problem – but we need a lot of data.
“I think we’re going to have a completely different society, where we don’t think about labor shortages, where we have sustainable energy production that can be turned into any product and service.”
“We could get there in five years if we don’t face obstacles, or within this decade.” It’s going to be an exciting future.’
Introducing the company’s robots as security guards put 1X – formerly known as Halodi – ahead of Elon Musk’s Tesla.
The $564 billion company is also working on its own humanoid robot, said to resemble EVE, which was revealed in a video this week but hasn’t been introduced to the real world yet.
The EVE robot is controlled by human security guards via virtual reality, but can move independently using its robotic hands, even opening doors and driving elevators.
“We could get there in five years if we don’t face obstacles, or within this decade.” It’s going to be an exciting future.’
The Eve robot has an LED “face” that can show reactions to humans, and operators can “talk” through the robot.
The company was founded in 2015 and has two offices; one in Moss, Norway and one in Dallas, and 10 EVE robots are produced each month.
The androids have also been tested in pilot projects in retail, logistics and healthcare, Bornich says – but the company chose to use them as security guards first.
The robot can pick up objects with its manipulators and even work as a barman
Using EVE in a real job will provide data that will help train the android for other jobs – such as caring for the elderly.
Security forces already use camera systems as well as alarm and motion sensors and are therefore used to dealing with technology, says Bornich.
Now, the same guards control a fleet of EVE robots.
“It’s as if you can screw in screws more effectively with a screwdriver,” says Bornich. ‘It makes you more effective.’ Gives you an increase in your ability to work.’
Bornich says previous attempts to build Android robots have been sold “as gimmicks” — but he’s determined to create a product that offers real value.
Bornich says that by using the robots as security guards, 1X can gather data that will help deploy the androids elsewhere.
“It made sense to start guarding,” says Bornich. “It has the least amount of chores.” “Everything you do helps train the system to do those chores better so you don’t have to intervene because it knows how to do it.”
The next generation of robots will work in assisted living, taking care of the elderly and others, Bornich says.
Bornich says: “The robots are not only something that does work, but also something that helps you as a companion.”
1X’s unique approach is to study how humans and animals interact with the world – and try to recreate that.
The company builds androids like EVE and their upcoming biped NEO from the ground up – with their own unique motor technologies and “tendons”, drivetrains that work like muscles, as well as sensor software and AI.
“We mimic how nature moves and how animals interact with their environment,” says Bornich. “We use these synthetic ropes, which are very similar to the muscles that pull tendons. It makes us capable and strong, but still very safe.”
OpenAI’s Startup Fund led an investment round that raised $23.5 million for 1X robots.
It also means that the company gets early access to OpenAI technology.
“What we’re doing is basically embodied AI,” says Bornich.
Bornich describes the robot as “embodied AI”
Bornich says the company is also working on language models so the robot can take commands.
“It’s like our room,” he says. “You can say, ‘You are a robot, here are your tasks for today.’ Pick something up, go through the door and pick it up. “And the robot actually performs those tasks in the real world and understands how those tasks are performed.” It’s quite magical.
The EVE robot has manipulators that can pick up objects – and is designed to work with humans.
Bornich says that having a humanoid form makes it easier for EVE to work with humans – or in nursing homes.
He says, “I challenge you to create a system that is general enough to handle most tasks in a home and doesn’t look like a human.”
“Little things like putting your feet together to get between the couch or the table, or picking something up, or leaning forward to close the window—all of these things help to be human.”
Bornich says the company turned to human form because if EVE was human but had four legs, for example, it would become “spooky”.
Bornich says he’s wanted to “do” robotics since he was a kid.
He said: “I was inspired by robots like Asimo and everything that happened in the early ’90s and ‘200s.”
After working in product development for a medtech company and in big data and AI, Bornich got the opportunity to found 1X (then called Halodi).
“We started with the big question: ‘Where have all the robots gone?’ At this point, 20 years later, do you expect us to have robots everywhere doing everything in our lives and being our companions? To the right? But why didn’t that happen? Where are they?’
1X’s EVE and NEO may soon provide an answer.
The EVE robot is controlled by human security guards via virtual reality, but can move independently using its robotic hands, even opening doors and driving elevators.
Bornich says he’s wanted to “do” robotics since he was a kid
Security forces control a fleet of patrolling EVE androids, and if anything happens to any of the units, they can ‘enter’ the android’s body via virtual reality.
“You’re there in a second, as if you were there,” says Bornich. He hopes that the robots will soon find work as geriatric nurses.
Bornich says: “We have this big vision, we want to solve the problem of the labor shortage.” We know how to solve the problem – but we need a lot of data.
“I think we’re going to have a completely different society, where we don’t think about labor shortages, where we have sustainable energy production that can be turned into any product and service.”
“We could get there in five years if we don’t face obstacles, or within this decade.” It’s going to be an exciting future.’
The Eve robot has an LED “face” that can show reactions to humans, and operators can “talk” through the robot.
Bornich says people tend to avoid the wheeled, battery-powered machines (which can return to their charging points on their own) during the company’s tests.
The company was founded in 2015 and has two offices; one in Moss, Norway and one in Dallas, and 10 EVE robots are produced each month.
The androids have also been tested in pilot projects in retail, logistics and healthcare, Bornich says – but the company chose to use them as security guards first.
Using EVE in a real job will provide data that will help train the android for other jobs – such as caring for the elderly.
“Previous generations of androids worked in the lab but not in the real world,” says Bornich.
“With our security forces, we solve a real problem and offer them a higher quality and more affordable service,” says Bornich.
Security forces already use camera systems as well as alarm and motion sensors and are therefore used to dealing with technology, says Bornich.
Now, the same guards control a fleet of EVE robots.
“It’s as if you can screw in screws more effectively with a screwdriver,” says Bornich. ‘It makes you more effective.’ Gives you an increase in your ability to work.’
Bornich says previous attempts to build Android robots have been sold “as gimmicks” — but he’s determined to create a product that offers real value.
Bornich says that by using the robots as security guards, 1X can gather data that will help deploy the androids elsewhere.
“It made sense to start guarding,” says Bornich. “It has the least amount of chores.” “Everything you do helps train the system to do those chores better so you don’t have to intervene because it knows how to do it.”
The next generation of robots will work in assisted living, taking care of the elderly and others, Bornich says.
Bornich says: “The robots are not only something that does work, but also something that helps you as a companion.”
1X’s unique approach is to study how humans and animals interact with the world – and try to recreate that.
The company builds androids like EVE and their upcoming biped NEO from the ground up – with their own unique motor technologies and “tendons”, drivetrains that work like muscles, as well as sensor software and AI.
“We mimic how nature moves and how animals interact with their environment,” says Bornich. “We use these synthetic ropes, which are very similar to the muscles that pull tendons. It makes us capable and strong, but still very safe.”
OpenAI’s Startup Fund led an investment round that raised $23.5 million for 1X robots.
It also means that the company gets early access to OpenAI technology.
“What we’re doing is basically embodied AI,” says Bornich.
Bornich says the company is also working on language models so the robot can take commands.
“It’s like our room,” he says. “You can say, ‘You are a robot, here are your tasks for today.’ Pick something up, go through the door and pick it up. “And the robot actually performs those tasks in the real world and understands how those tasks are performed.” It’s quite magical.
The EVE robot has manipulators that can pick up objects – and is designed to work with humans.
Bornich says that having a humanoid form makes it easier for EVE to work with humans – or in nursing homes.
He says, “I challenge you to create a system that is general enough to handle most tasks in a home and doesn’t look like a human.”
“Little things like putting your feet together to get between the couch or the table, or picking something up, or leaning forward to close the window—all of these things help to be human.”
Bornich says the company turned to human form because if EVE was human but had four legs, for example, it would become “spooky”.
The company intends to launch a two-legged robot NEO next year, as a successor to the wheeled EVE.
Bornich says he’s wanted to “do” robotics since he was a kid.
He said: “I was inspired by robots like Asimo and everything that happened in the early ’90s and ‘200s.”
After working in product development for a medtech company and in big data and AI, Bornich got the opportunity to found 1X (then called Halodi).
“We started with the big question: ‘Where have all the robots gone?’ At this point, 20 years later, do you expect us to have robots everywhere doing everything in our lives and being our companions? To the right? But why didn’t that happen? Where are they?’
1X’s EVE and NEO may soon provide an answer.