NEO vs. MasterChef: Can a Robot Outcook YouTube's Culinary Star?
In August, OpenAI-backed 1X Technologies introduced NEO Beta, a humanoid robot prototype crafted for home use. Recently, NEO made headlines by taking on a new challenge in the kitchen, where it competed with renowned YouTube chef Nick DiGiovanni in cooking a perfectly medium-rare steak. Nick, known for being the youngest finalist on the popular culinary reality show MasterChef, currently boasts over 21 million YouTube followers.
During the cooking duel, NEO demonstrated its capabilities by lighting the stove, adding olive oil, and placing the steak into the hot pan. The robotic chef performed these tasks with precision, despite minor mishaps such as spilling olive oil. The interaction included playful banter, although not entirely spontaneous. This sequence revealed NEO's potential, yet also underscored that the process was not fully autonomous, requiring 1X's remote assistance throughout.
Despite the successful outcome, NEO's operation was not devoid of human intervention. The robot still needs guidance for complex tasks like chopping herbs or other intricate kitchen duties, which present challenges due to data input requirements. The conversational exchange between NEO and Nick was pre-programmed to meet the planned script for the video, even though NEO is equipped with GPT-4o for real-time dialogue.
1X Technologies clarified that NEO's culinary feature will not be immediately available to early users. There is an emphasis on ensuring the robot accumulates sufficient experience with safer tasks before handling sharp or high-temperature objects. This cautionary approach highlights the step-by-step process needed to achieve full automation.
NEO stands at 5 feet 5 inches and weighs 30 kilograms, designed with a range of capabilities such as lifting twice its weight. The robot's design, featuring flexible components and a muscle-like structure, promises a balance between durability and gentleness, departing from traditional rigid actuators.
1X envisions NEO not only demonstrating industrial capabilities in logistics and manufacturing but also managing household chores in the future. CEO Bernt Børnich aims for the robot to handle everyday tasks disliked by humans, such as cleaning and organizing, aligning with user preferences for a personalized experience.
Currently, NEO is adept at basic household tasks like fetching items and making coffee. In a strategic move, 1X plans to deploy a limited number of NEO units in select homes to gather vital data for further research and development. Post-testing, mass production is set to commence at the company's Norwegian facility, paving the way for its anticipated entry into broader household applications.