Rise of the Home Robots: Figure AI & 1X Are Bringing Sci-Fi to Your Kitchen – But When Will You Get One?
The age of humanoid robots is no longer science fiction—it’s happening now. Two groundbreaking new videos have just dropped, showing robots putting away groceries and handling household tasks with an eerie level of competence. Figure AI and Norway’s 1X Technologies are leading the charge, at least with video drops. Still, they’re not alone—over 150, extremely well funded, companies worldwide are racing to bring humanoid robots into homes.
The question is no longer if robots will join our daily lives, but when. And how much will it cost you to have your own robotic helper?
Figure AI’s Helix: The Grocery-Stocking, Task-Smashing Robot
Figure AI just unveiled its latest milestone—a video featuring two of its humanoid robots smoothly unloading groceries and putting them away witjout bveing told what they are or where they should go. No pre-programming, no pre-set motions—just pure AI-driven intelligence in action. The company’s new Helix visual learning system powers these robots, giving them real-time visual understanding and the ability to react dynamically, much like a human would.
Even more impressive? The entire system runs onboard the robots themselves, with embedded GPUs doing all the heavy lifting. No cloud computing, no lag—just fast, real-world decision-making. (Watch the video here)
1X Technologies’ Neo Gamma: Your Future Housekeeper?
Not to be outdone, Norwegian robotics firm 1X Technologies has introduced Neo Gamma, the latest iteration of its home-ready humanoid robot. Unlike many competitors still stuck in research labs, Neo Gamma is designed for actual household use—cleaning, organizing, and even making coffee.
Wrapped in a soft, knitted exterior for a less creepy, more approachable, and safer if you bump into it look, Neo Gamma also boasts advanced hands capable of delicate tasks. If you’ve ever dreamed of having a robotic butler, this could be your first glimpse into the future. (Watch it in action here)
The Billion-Dollar Race: Everyone Wants In
While these two robots are grabbing headlines, they’re just the tip of the iceberg. The global humanoid robotics race is exploding with over 150 well-funded companies pushing the limits of what’s possible. Companies that include well-funded start-ups like Figure AI, 1X, Agility, Boston Dynamics, Apptronik, Neura Robotics and existing large comnpanies like Tesla, Hyundai, and many others.
The investment wave is massive. In 2024 alone, robotics startups secured at least $7.2 billion in funding. Figure AI alone is reportedly finalizing another $1.5 billion round, pushing its valuation from $2.6B to $39.5 billion in just a year! Backers of these starups include OpenAI, Microsoft, Nvidia, Intel, Amazon, and individual billionaires like Jeff Bezos. (Source)
The Roadblocks: What’s Stopping You from Owning a Robot Today?
Despite these jaw-dropping advances, don’t expect to see humanoid robots casually walking around every home just yet. The biggest hurdles?
- They’re still expensive. Early humanoid robots will cost as much as a car.
- Tech challenges remain. Handling fragile objects, navigating messy homes, and seamlessly interacting with humans are all areas that need fine-tuning.
- Society needs time to adjust. A common reaction to watching the videos is that the robots seem creepy. So, just like the first cars or computers, people will likely need time to get comfortable with the idea of robots doing human tasks.
The Adoption Curve: How Fast Will This Take Over?
Looking at past tech revolutions gives us some clues about how quickly humanoid robots might go mainstream:
- Refrigerators took about 30 years to become standard in homes.
- Washing machines & microwaves? About 20 years.
- Home computers started slow but became common within 15 years.
- The internet & cell phones? Widespread adoption in 10 years.
- Smartphones? Just 5-7 years.
Given these trends, and the likely price point, humanoid robots might take as long as 10-20 years to reach mass adoption but at Pepper Foster, we believe that as soon as the price point is the same as a new car, most consumers will choose to lease or buy a home robot instead of a new car. And, given that the average length of ownership for a car in the US is around eight years, that could mean that over 50% of homes will have a home robot within the first 10 years. And, if the price point is lower than a car, we exect that home help humanoid robots to be the fastest adopted home technology ever.
When Can You Get One? Maybe within 5-10 years!
Experts predict that humanoid robots will start appearing in homes by the 2030s, initially as high-end luxury assistants before gradually becoming mainstream. As AI improves and production costs drop, we may see these bots become as common as dishwashers.
For now, keep your eyes on Figure AI, 1X Technologies, and the dozens of other companies pouring billions into making this robotic future a reality.