1X said it shares an outlook with the team at Kind Humanoid, which has applied LLMs to safe general-purpose robots.
The post 1X Technologies acquires Kind Humanoid to accelerate work toward household robots appeared first on The Robot Report.
Christoph Kohstall with Mona, which includes innovative physical design and LLMs for safe human interaction. Source: Kind Humnaoid
While the number of humanoid robotics developers is increasing, some companies are joining forces. 1X Technologies AS today said it is acquiring Kind Humanoid Inc., “uniting two robotics teams with aligned visions to advance humanoid technology.”
“Joining 1X feels like the perfect next chapter for Kind Humanoid,” stated Christoph Kohstall, CEO of Kind Humanoid. He was a scientist at Stanford University and a member of Google’s robotics team before founding Kind in 2023.
“From starting out in a small garage to now becoming part of a team that shares our belief in humanoids living and learning among us, this acquisition brings our vision closer to reality,” he said. “Together, we can create robots that truly connect with people and make a difference where it matters most,” he said.
Kind Humanoid applied LLMs to human interaction
Palo Alto, Calif.-based Kind Humanoid developed Mona, a bipedal humanoid intended to work in homes and in fields such as healthcare. The three-person company worked with renowned designer Yves Béhar on the bio-inspired form factor.
It also applied artificial intelligence and large language models (LLMs) to enabling Mona to interact with and assist people in everyday situations. From its Olympia prototype, Kind was working toward robots that could be general-purpose rather than be trained only for specific tasks.
1X embraces household robotics mission
Like Kind Robotics, 1X Technologies has been developing general-purpose robots for households. The company‘s stated mission is “to create an abundance of labor through safe, intelligent humanoids that work alongside people.”
“It’s rare to find someone who is not just a powerhouse engineer but also completely aligned philosophically and strategically on how humanoids as products should take shape,” said Bernt Børnich, CEO of 1X. “Having Christoph join the 1X team here in the Bay will accelerate our path to a world full of humanoid robots.”
Founded as Halodi Robotics in 2014, 1X Technologies has offices in Moss, Norway, and Sunnyvale, Calif. A year ago, it raised $100 million in Series B funding and added executives with experience from BMW and Tesla.
In May 2024, 1X demonstrated progress in voice control and chaining tasks. In August, the company announced its NEO Beta soft and lightweight prototype.
Where will humanoids go next?
On The Robot Report Podcast in October, Børnich discussed 1X’s plans to train and test its systems in homes.
“The relationship between the two newly joined companies is built on the foundational belief that humanoids need to be developed alongside humans — living and learning among us,” said the company. “With a focus on safety, 1X is at the forefront of the next wave of robotics, offering products that are accessible and practical for everyday use.”
By contrast, many of the other companies developing humanoids are focusing on commercial applications, starting with simple materials handling tasks in logistics and manufacturing. Examples include Agility Robotics, which is working with GXO, Schaeffler, Ricoh, and Manhattan Associates.
In December, Figure AI said it is shipping its Figure 02 humanoid robots to a paying customer. BMW Group had tested Figure 02 for handling fitted sheet-metal parts on its automotive production line.
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The post 1X Technologies acquires Kind Humanoid to accelerate work toward household robots appeared first on The Robot Report.
Christoph Kohstall with Mona, which includes innovative physical design and LLMs for safe human interaction. Source: Kind Humnaoid
While the number of humanoid robotics developers is increasing, some companies are joining forces. 1X Technologies AS today said it is acquiring Kind Humanoid Inc., “uniting two robotics teams with aligned visions to advance humanoid technology.”
“Joining 1X feels like the perfect next chapter for Kind Humanoid,” stated Christoph Kohstall, CEO of Kind Humanoid. He was a scientist at Stanford University and a member of Google’s robotics team before founding Kind in 2023.
“From starting out in a small garage to now becoming part of a team that shares our belief in humanoids living and learning among us, this acquisition brings our vision closer to reality,” he said. “Together, we can create robots that truly connect with people and make a difference where it matters most,” he said.
Kind Humanoid applied LLMs to human interaction
Palo Alto, Calif.-based Kind Humanoid developed Mona, a bipedal humanoid intended to work in homes and in fields such as healthcare. The three-person company worked with renowned designer Yves Béhar on the bio-inspired form factor.
It also applied artificial intelligence and large language models (LLMs) to enabling Mona to interact with and assist people in everyday situations. From its Olympia prototype, Kind was working toward robots that could be general-purpose rather than be trained only for specific tasks.
1X embraces household robotics mission
Like Kind Robotics, 1X Technologies has been developing general-purpose robots for households. The company‘s stated mission is “to create an abundance of labor through safe, intelligent humanoids that work alongside people.”
“It’s rare to find someone who is not just a powerhouse engineer but also completely aligned philosophically and strategically on how humanoids as products should take shape,” said Bernt Børnich, CEO of 1X. “Having Christoph join the 1X team here in the Bay will accelerate our path to a world full of humanoid robots.”
Founded as Halodi Robotics in 2014, 1X Technologies has offices in Moss, Norway, and Sunnyvale, Calif. A year ago, it raised $100 million in Series B funding and added executives with experience from BMW and Tesla.
In May 2024, 1X demonstrated progress in voice control and chaining tasks. In August, the company announced its NEO Beta soft and lightweight prototype.
Where will humanoids go next?
On The Robot Report Podcast in October, Børnich discussed 1X’s plans to train and test its systems in homes.
“The relationship between the two newly joined companies is built on the foundational belief that humanoids need to be developed alongside humans — living and learning among us,” said the company. “With a focus on safety, 1X is at the forefront of the next wave of robotics, offering products that are accessible and practical for everyday use.”
By contrast, many of the other companies developing humanoids are focusing on commercial applications, starting with simple materials handling tasks in logistics and manufacturing. Examples include Agility Robotics, which is working with GXO, Schaeffler, Ricoh, and Manhattan Associates.
In December, Figure AI said it is shipping its Figure 02 humanoid robots to a paying customer. BMW Group had tested Figure 02 for handling fitted sheet-metal parts on its automotive production line.
Register today to save 40% on conference passes!
The post 1X Technologies acquires Kind Humanoid to accelerate work toward household robots appeared first on The Robot Report.