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The NEO humanoid robot is built at what the author calls the most vertically…

2026-05-12 · 18:42 UTC ·@rpnickson ·1 min read

Brief

The NEO factory tour shows 1X_tech’s end-to-end U.S. humanoid robot production: CEO Bernt Børnich and VP Vikram Kothari highlight in-house manufacture of all critical components and a four-week CAD-to-robot build cycle. NEO, tied to a claimed 'World Model' general intelligence, is slated for consumer-home launch later in 2026, with safety and privacy discussed on the factory floor.

Why it matters

The NEO humanoid robot is built at what the author calls the most vertically integrated humanoid robot factory in America—every critical component (motors, limbs, circuits, sensors) is manufactured in-house by 1X_tech.

Key details

  • VP of Operations Vikram Kothari says the factory runs a rapid four-week CAD-to-finished-robot cycle; CEO Bernt Børnich (who started building soapbox cars at age 11) led the tour and frames NEO around 1X_tech's '1X North Star.'
  • NEO is positioned to launch into consumer homes later in 2026 and the company emphasizes a proprietary 'World Model' (claimed as 'true general intelligence') along with safety and privacy measures.
Source evidence

I toured the only factory in America building humanoid robots from scratch.

Last month, I got an exclusive first look at the facility making NEO— the humanoid robot launching into consumer homes later this year.

It is the most vertically integrated humanoid robot factory in America.

Every critical component is done in-house.

CEO Bernt Børnich walked us through the full story: from building soapbox cars with his dad at age 11 to leading the only end-to-end humanoid robot factory in the United States.

VP of Operations Vikram Kothari then took us inside the entire build process, where every motor, limb, circuit, and sensor comes together under one roof on a rapid four-week cycle from CAD to finished robot.

[TIMESTAMPS]

(00:00) Welcome to the NEO Factory
(01:00) 1X: from childhood dream to reality
(02:21) The World Model difference: true general intelligence
(03:48) Making everything in America- why is it so important?
(05:01) Walking the factory floor
(06:04) Safety and privacy
(07:57) A more abundant future: the real impact of NEO
(09:26) Bernt's story and the 1X North Star

Huge thank you to @Berntbornich, Vikram, and the entire @1X_tech team for opening the doors and showing us everything!

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