'They're building each other': new X1 Neo robot video shows the humanoids assisting in the robot production process, just as all science fiction foretold

That's cool, right?

30 Apr 2026, 23:30 by https://www.techradar.com/uk/author/lance-ulanoff · TechRadar

News By Lance Ulanoff published 30 April 2026

(Image credit: 1X)

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1X robot production facility is now building the Neo robot
One factory worker will look especially familiar
The company says it's on track to deliver the humanoid into homes this year

It's still hard to buy your own home robot. Humanoids like Tesla Optimus and Figure AI have yet to go on sale, and 1X's $20,000 Neo Home Robot is still on pre-order. But at least Neo is doing its best to move the operation along, as it, according to a newly released video, assists in its own production.

1X released a nearly three-minute-long video on Thursday that shows virtually the entire Neo robot production process, from machining key components to weaving the touchable or huggable fabric to dropping in an Nvidia GPU.

The video has close-up views of lathes, CNC systems, and overhead shots of a large factory where a legion of workers are assembling the robot. Throughout, however, are 1X Neo robots assisting; in essence, they're building each other.

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While most of the robots do not appear to be operating heavy machinery, they are seen carrying, sorting, and gathering parts. One has to wonder, as they are gathering gears and pulleys from these blue bins, if they ever recognize the parts as bits and pieces of themselves.

1X has been working with Nvidia for more than a year, using its silicon and AI models to train the Neo robot in basic home care tasks, such as taking a cup from the dishwasher and putting it away. There's obviously been a lot of training and simulation since then, which is likely what's made Neo's new factory worker role possible.

NEO Factory | Hayward, California - YouTube

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The other striking thing about the video is the scale of the operation. 1X says in the video description that they have 200 employees working in a 58,000 square foot facility based in Hayward, California. In one room, they appear to be building dozens of Neo robots at once. They're all hanging off racks, usually with their heads in place, but limbs in the process of being introduced.

1X's goal here appears to be not so much showing that its robots are part of the operation (it's done so casually) as the expertise and care that go into each build. At one point, we see someone carefully adding the robot's mouthless face as if he were handling fine china.

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