Bernt Børnich, founder and CEO of 1X, talks with Relentless about designing and bringing humanoid robots into people’s homes.
Børnich says 1X wants NEO to feel relatable and soft, rather than drawing on the dark sci-fi look often used for robots. He describes protecting core product principles: safety, real capability, and affordability. He also lives with the robot and uses it to spot problems early.
Børnich describes NEO autonomously opening the door for a visitor and sitting beside him for a conversation. Sitting together changed how the interaction felt, beyond the familiar effects of body language and eye contact. He recalls residents at an elderly care center asking to keep their familiar robot Eve rather than receive a replacement.
Early home trials showed how easily robots can get into trouble, and Børnich says real-world reliability and user friendliness remain difficult. Everyday tasks such as tidying, vacuuming, and bringing drinks can be useful, but poor Wi-Fi can limit access to larger models and remote assistance. He sees ordinary household routines, such as whether someone wants to keep a coffee cup, as social context that could help robots become more intelligent.
Børnich says 1X began in 2014 and developed core components because existing motors, sensors, and manufacturing methods did not meet its needs. He links that approach to a robot designed to be lightweight, compliant, and affordable. He says the company brought its Hayward factory online in four weeks, while emphasizing that producing reliable robots at scale remains a major operational challenge.
Børnich says his current focus is operational: product quality, customer experience, security, privacy, and safety. He confirms the goal of one million robots by 2028 and says customers should be promised capabilities the product can reliably deliver. His near-term priority is getting more NEOs into homes, including homes beyond the early-adopter group.
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