Meet Startup 1X CEO Bernt Bornich: What Do We Know About Him?

2024 has been a great year so far for Artificial Intelligence. Whether it’s ChatGPT’s new model or the AI-powered gadgets, we can’t wait to see what will come next. And let’s not forget robots, shall we?

Forget the Optimus humanoid bot from Tesla itself! There’s a new contender, and he is AI robot startup 1X CEO Bernt Bornich.

Norway-based 1X founder Bernt plans to top Elon Musk’s Tesla bot. But can he do that? Well, he indeed is a genius like Musk, and people like him, Elon, and Brett Adcock (another AI Robot founder) are revolutionizing the world of AI robots.

Fondness for Robots From an Early Age

Since his early days, Bernt Oivind Bornich has built with one goal in mind: to make as many efficient humanoid robots as possible. Since he was 11, Bernt developed an interest in electromechanics and computers.

So, after completing his schooling, Bernt went to the University of Oslo to study robotics. He eventually graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Robotics and Nanoelectronics.

Startup 1X CEO Bernt Bornich. Image Credit: Social Media.

Fascinated by Japan’s robot culture, Bernt visualized himself working in Japan in his older years. And why not? Famous robot maker Hiroshi Ishiguro is Japanese.

Growing up in Norway, Bernt wanted to explore, but unfortunately, he couldn’t relocate to Japan. However, he continued his interest in Norway, and now he has built a robot that could challenge the newest models.

Early Career before 1X

Bernt’s career started as a System Developer at Bring Dialogue, where he worked for nearly five years designing CRM systems using ASP. Net, MVC/Orchard, and C#/Oracle.

Then, he spent eight months as a Senior Consultant at Inmeta Crayon, focusing on system development.

Later on, Bornich joined Data Respons, where he worked as a senior development engineer for 2.5 years, producing embedded solutions for space, defense, offshore, automation, medical, and telecommunication.

Becoming The Lead: Startup 1X CEO Bernt Bornich

AI robot startup 1X CEO Bernt Bornich founded the company in 2014 to build human-like, safe robots with intelligence. The first instrument the company tried was the Revo1 motor design, and this functioned as expected.

Bornich has led the company 1X in implementing a robot known as EVE, which specializes in security, logistics, and AI research.

Startup 1X CEO Bernt Bornich. Image Credit: Social Media.

The company’s invention, NEO, is very versatile and capable of performing tasks based on natural language and voice. Intended for different sectors and homes like Menteebot Humanoid, 1X’s robots are among the most advanced commercial humanoid robots.

Development of EVE and NEO Robot

1X first robot, EVE, weighs 80kg and has wheeled legs. This robot was recently spotted serving coffee at an Oslo railway station.

The present EVE is employed in logistics and security, while the next-generation robot is for home use, as shown by NEO.

NEO is lightweight, measures 30 kg, has a soft covering, and walks on two legs. This design enables NEO to do things a wheeled robot cannot do, such as plug something behind the sofa.

Startup 1X CEO Bernt Bornich pointed out that the real difficulty is not walking but manipulating, that is, doing a lot in a limited area.

Safety is essential,  particularly in the home, so NEO is lightweight and has a soft exterior, thus eliminating any danger, such as lifting an object over people’s heads. Teaching robots about their environment is challenging.

ALSO READ: Unitree G1 Humanoid Robot Is Faster, Cheaper, And Better

Challenges Faced While Working

Companies develop humanoid robots, and unlike humans, conventional robots encompass gears. This is where the thought of eliminating gears as a possibility to enhance safety, capability, and cost transformed into a game changer.

This made 1X imitate humans and biological systems in their designs. Teams were encouraged by dead salmon and bird feathers. They began developing robots miming human actions, such as throwing their arms forward to regain balance or using their elbow and shoulders to pass through a door.

1X take out gears, new opportunities emerged along with a different way of thinking about the functioning of “bodies” in the designs. It was very beautiful and kind of like a fairy tale moment.

How do they training the robots in 1X?

1X says it is building AI models that will govern home robots, an endeavor that entails extensive training data. For example, teaching a robot how to load a dishwasher can be taught outside the classroom. However, 1X trained similarly to large language models (LLMs).

According to the CEO, “We clone human behavior and thought into the machine similarly as LLMs are trained,” An operator in the control room wearing a VR headset ‘sees and hears through the robot, and the robot physically moves as the operator does.

Startup 1X CEO Bernt Bornich. Image Credit: Social Media.

LLM’s method records both the processes and the flow of activities involved in executing them. This way, even such activities as placing cups and saucers into a dishwasher are verbalized and become text used for training.

Startup 1X CEO Bernt Bornich believes that constructing a consumer-facing robot will afford the large amount of data required to solve AI’s most complex problems.

1X is Backed by Giants like OpenAI and NVIDIA

In the summer of 2022, 1X contacted OpenAI. Their discussions escalated to OpenAI, leading 1X’s Series A round of funding extension, which saw it secure $23.5 million at the start of 2023.

‘When the CEO of 1X first discussed it with Sam Altman, the OpenAI CEO, Many doubted that AI could be used to design such complex androids, particularly because robotics was trailing behind other digital sectors,’ shares Startup 1X CEO Bernt Bornich.

“NVIDIA is not just a competitor, but a partner. 1X uses NVIDIA to build and deploy AI, which is why it is a mutually beneficial relationship,” says Bornich.

1X gains an advantage after using NVIDIA’s software in its Androids.

Details About Investments in 1X

1X raised their Series A not long ago, according to Bornich, but the firm has developed such a strong AI that it is ready to scale up.

This implies the collection of more company data, the availability of more computational resources for training AI models, and the production of more NEO in factories.

The company has secured $100 million in Series B funding to mass-produce its newly developed Android, NEO.

Although Bornich has not indicated the cost of the system, he has said that it will be relatively cheaper than similar systems in the market.

EQT Ventures led the round. Other participants were existing Norwegian-based VC Sandwater, which invested a significant amount.

Other investors are Samsung Next, Skagerak Capital, and Nistad Group. This round alone has taken 1X’s total funding to over $125 million.

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