A robot that could work as a nurse or bartender and pick up objects with human-like hands is already working in the US, the CEO of the OpenAI-funded company, maker of ChatGPT, has revealed.
Bernt Bornich, CEO and founder of 1X, says his company's humanoid robot EVE has been running since April this year – and it's doing "better than we thought".
It is the first true humanoid android to find a place in the workplace in human history.
Currently, the robot works as a security guard at two industrial sites: unlike other security robots, it has a head, a face, two arms and can move autonomously The Guardians control a fleet of patrolling EVE androids, which are made in two locations in Norway and Dallas, and if something happens to one of the units, they can "enter" the android's body via virtual reality.
Bornich hopes that robots will soon find work as caregivers for the elderly. "We have this big vision, we want to solve the labor shortage problem. We have a way to solve it – but we need a lot of data. I think we will have a completely different society, where we won't think about labor shortages, where we have sustainable energy generation that can be turned into any product and service. We can get there in five years if we don't hit roadblocks. It's going to be an exciting future."
Non-humanoid robots – resembling a human form – have been marketed for security purposes for years. These include the egg-shaped K5 made by California-based Knightscope and the two-wheeled robot made by start-up Ascento that patrolled railway depots in Switzerland.
But unlike the others, the new humanoid robot has manipulators – a kind of robotic arm – that allow it to open doors, windows and pick up objects. "Previous generations of androids worked in the lab, but not in the real world. With our security guards, we solve a real problem and give them a service that is better and more affordable."
The company is already working on an alternative robot – called NEO – that would be bipedal and walk like a human. Currently, 1.1 million people work as security guards in the United States. The company started in 2015 and has two offices; one in Moss, Norway and one in Dallas, and 10 EVE robots are produced every month.
Androids have also been tested in pilot schemes in retail, logistics and healthcare, says Bornich – but the company has decided to put them first as watchdogs.
The launch of the company's robots as guardians put the 1X – formerly known as Halodi – ahead of Elon Musk's Tesla.
The $564 billion company is also working on its own humanoid robot that would be similar to EVE and was revealed in a video this week, but has yet to be introduced in the real world.
The EVE robot is controlled by human guardians via virtual reality – but can travel around on its own, and even open doors and drive lifts, using its robotic 'hands'. The Eve robot has an LED "face" that can show human reactions, and operators can "speak" through the robot.
Bornich says the company is also working on language models so the robot can take commands.
"You can say, 'You're a robot, here are your tasks for today.' Grab something, go through the door and pick it up. Or if you are helping the elderly, tell him "Close the window. And the robot actually performs these tasks in the real world and understands how these tasks are performed. It's pretty magical. We mimic how nature moves and how animals interact with their environment. We use these synthetic ropes that are very similar to the muscles that pull the tendons. This allows us to be capable and strong, yet very safe."
The next generation of robots will work in assisted living, elder care, and others, says Bornich.
Bornich says, “Robots are not just something that does work, but something that helps you as a companion.
The unique approach 1X takes is to study how humans and animals interact with the world – and try to replicate it.
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