Articles tagged with "SoftBank"
SoftBank and Nvidia reportedly in talks to fund SkildAI at $14B, nearly tripling its value
SoftBank Group and Nvidia are reportedly negotiating to lead a funding round exceeding $1 billion for Skild AI, a robotics software startup, at a valuation of $14 billion. This potential investment would nearly triple Skild AI’s valuation from its previous $4.7 billion mark in May 2025, when it raised $500 million with participation from SoftBank, LG Technology Ventures, Samsung, Nvidia, and others. Unlike many robotics startups that focus on proprietary hardware, Skild AI develops a robot-agnostic foundational model called Skild Brain, designed to be adaptable across various robot types and applications. The company demonstrated this model in July with robots performing tasks such as picking up dishes and climbing stairs, and has formed strategic partnerships with LG CNS and Hewlett Packard Enterprise to expand its ecosystem. The growing investor interest in AI-driven robotics is reflected in other recent large funding rounds within the sector. For example, Physical Intelligence, which also develops generalized robotic “brains,” and Figure, a humanoid robot
roboticsAI-roboticsSoftBankNvidiarobot-foundation-modelhumanoid-robotsrobot-agnostic-AISoftBank and Yaskawa to collaborate on physical AI for the office - The Robot Report
SoftBank Corp. and Yaskawa Electric Corp. have announced a collaboration to develop "physical AI" for social and office robotics, combining Yaskawa’s mobile manipulator technology with SoftBank’s AI and connectivity infrastructure. Physical AI is defined as technology enabling robots to analyze sensor and camera data through AI to perform flexible, complex physical tasks and multi-tasking capabilities, moving beyond conventional robots designed for single, specific functions. This initiative aims to address Japan’s demographic challenges, such as a shrinking workforce, by creating robots capable of flexible decision-making in complex environments like offices, hospitals, and schools. The partners have developed an office use case involving a virtual building management system that centrally manages facility data, office supplies, and robot operations. SoftBank provides AI-RAN communications infrastructure, multi-access edge computing (MEC), and a vision-language model (VLM) to generate task instructions, while Yaskawa contributes its MOTOMAN NEXT mobile manipulator and a vision-language-action (VLA)
roboticsartificial-intelligenceoffice-robotsphysical-AIYaskawaSoftBankautomationABB Group to sell ABB Robotics to SoftBank for $5.375B - The Robot Report
ABB Group has announced the sale of its ABB Robotics & Discrete Automation division to SoftBank Group Corp. for $5.375 billion. The Zurich-based industrial automation giant had previously planned to spin off the unit due to declining orders and revenues from 2023 through early 2025. ABB Robotics generated $2.3 billion in revenue in 2024, accounting for about 7% of ABB’s total revenue, with an operational EBITDA margin of 12.1%. The division employs roughly 7,000 people and includes a product portfolio featuring the OmniCore controller, industrial automation solutions, robot arms, and autonomous mobile robots acquired through ASTI Mobile Robotics. ABB intends to use the proceeds from the sale according to its capital allocation principles while maintaining focus on its core electrification and automation strategies. SoftBank, which has a history of investments and ownership in robotics companies with mixed outcomes, views this acquisition as a strategic move to advance its vision of “physical AI” by combining ABB Robotics’
roboticsindustrial-automationABB-RoboticsSoftBankautonomous-mobile-robotsrobot-armsrobotics-investmentSoftBank bulks up its robotics portfolio with ABB Group’s robotics unit
Japanese conglomerate SoftBank Group is expanding its robotics portfolio by acquiring ABB Group’s robotics business unit based in Zurich for $5.375 billion. The deal, expected to close by mid-to-late 2026 pending regulatory approval, involves ABB’s robotics division which employs around 7,000 people and generated $2.3 billion in revenue in 2024, accounting for 7% of ABB’s total revenue. ABB’s robotics unit offers a range of robots for tasks such as picking, cleaning, and painting. Following the acquisition, Sami Atiya, the division head, will leave the company. SoftBank aims to revitalize the robotics spinoff, whose revenue declined from $2.5 billion in 2023 to $2.3 billion in 2024. SoftBank has been steadily increasing its investments in robotics, including stakes in established companies like AutoStore and startups such as Skild AI and Agile Robots, alongside launching its own SoftBank Robotics Group in 2014
roboticsSoftBankABB-Groupartificial-intelligencephysical-AIrobotics-acquisitionautomationSoftBank makes $2B investment in Intel
Japanese conglomerate SoftBank has agreed to invest $2 billion in Intel by purchasing common stock at $23 per share, signaling a strong commitment to advanced semiconductor technology and manufacturing in the United States. The deal, announced after market hours on August 18, 2025, led to a more than 5% increase in Intel’s share price. SoftBank Group Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son emphasized that the investment reflects confidence in the expansion of U.S.-based semiconductor manufacturing, with Intel playing a pivotal role, especially amid growing interest in AI chip development. This investment serves as a significant validation for Intel, which has faced competitive pressures from companies like Nvidia and is currently undergoing a restructuring under new CEO Lip-Bu Tan. Intel is focusing on streamlining its semiconductor business, particularly its client and data center segments, while reducing workforce in its Intel Foundry division. The deal also aligns with SoftBank’s renewed focus on the U.S. market and AI technologies, complementing its recent activities such
semiconductorsAI-chipsIntelSoftBankadvanced-technologysemiconductor-manufacturingdata-centersSoftBank reportedly looking to launch a trillion-dollar AI and robotics industrial complex
SoftBank is reportedly planning to launch a massive AI and robotics industrial complex valued at around one trillion dollars. The Japanese investment conglomerate aims to collaborate with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) to establish this facility in Arizona. The project, named Project Crystal Land, is still in its early stages, and details about TSMC’s specific involvement or interest remain unclear. This initiative follows SoftBank’s recent increased focus on AI, including its participation in other AI ventures. While SoftBank is eager to partner with TSMC, Bloomberg sources indicate uncertainty about TSMC’s willingness to join the project. As of now, SoftBank has not provided further details, and the scope and timeline of Project Crystal Land remain largely undefined.
roboticsAISoftBankindustrial-complexTSMCProject-Crystal-Landtechnology-investmentAldebaran, maker of Pepper and Nao robots, put in receivership - The Robot Report
robothumanoidPepperNaoAldebaranSoftBankrobotics