1X has successfully acquired Kind Humanoid, a Norwegian robotics startup, as reported by StartupSuperb on Monday. This acquisition represents a significant step towards consolidating the humanoid robotics sector, which is on the cusp of a pivotal development phase in 2025.
In October, StartupSuperb had a conversation with Kind Humanoid when the startup, then comprised of only three members, unveiled that it had enlisted renowned designer Yves Béhar to assist in the creation of its inaugural commercial robot.
The narrative surrounding Kind Humanoid embodies the spirit often associated with innovative startups established in the garages of Silicon Valley. CEO Christoph Kohstall, a former robotics researcher at Google, provided a virtual tour of the company’s bustling East Bay office through his phone. During the tour, it was highlighted that Kind opted for an unconventional $80 coat rack instead of a traditional ceiling-mounted gantry system, which was visible in the background.
In addition to securing the expertise of designer Béhar, known for creating products such as the Jawbone fitness tracker, One Laptop Per Child, and August Locks, Kind has also garnered interest from other robotics firms. Concurrently, 1X has been in the spotlight due to its generative AI-driven strategies and high-profile fundraising achievements, which include raising $100 million in January.
Investors such as Tiger Global and OpenAI have identified themselves as backers of 1X. The involvement of OpenAI is particularly noteworthy, as interest in platforms like ChatGPT continues to grow rapidly. Meanwhile, Kind Humanoid has concentrated on exploring how large language models can play a vital role as more robotics companies aim to develop a level of general intelligence in conjunction with versatile humanoid designs.
1X has highlighted:
The distinctive expertise and culture of Kind Humanoid aligns with 1X’s goal of creating a greater abundance of labour through the development of safe and intelligent humanoids. The collaboration between these two newly merged organisations is grounded in the belief that humanoids should evolve in harmony with humans — residing and learning among us.
The integration of Kind Humanoid’s capabilities will also facilitate the expansion of 1X’s operations in the Bay Area. Specific terms of the acquisition remain undisclosed.