SoftBank in talks to buy majority stake in robot maker 1X

SoftBank Group is in talks to acquire a majority stake in humanoid robot developer 1X Technologies at a valuation of approximately $6 billion, The Information reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the discussions.reuters+1

The negotiations, which remain ongoing and could still change in terms, would bring the Norwegian-born robotics startup under the umbrella of one of the world's largest technology investors as it deepens its bet on what CEO Masayoshi Son has called "Physical AI."crypto

A Web of OpenAI Connections

The potential deal carries layers of strategic overlap. OpenAI invested in 1X through its Startup Fund in 2023, leading a $23.5 million Series A2 round alongside Tiger Global and several Norway-based investors. OpenAI and 1X also discussed a possible acquisition last year, though those talks did not result in a transaction.theedgemarkets+2

SoftBank, meanwhile, has poured tens of billions of dollars into OpenAI itself. The company completed a $10 billion second tranche investment in OpenAI on July 1 as part of a $30 billion follow-on commitment announced in February, placing OpenAI at a $730 billion pre-money valuation. Acquiring 1X would extend SoftBank's AI strategy from models and computing infrastructure into devices that operate in physical environments.crypto

Reuters could not independently confirm the report. SoftBank declined to comment, and 1X did not immediately respond to requests for comment.reuters+1

Robotics Ambitions Expand

The 1X discussions come as SoftBank works to close its $5.375 billion acquisition of ABB's robotics business, announced in October 2025 and expected to complete later this year. That deal covers industrial robotic arms and automation systems — a different segment from 1X's consumer-oriented machines.etnownews+1

Founded as Halodi Robotics in Norway, 1X has developed NEO, a home robot priced at $20,000 for early-access buyers or $499 per month on a subscription basis, with U.S. deliveries scheduled to begin in 2026. The Information reported that 1X received more than 10,000 NEO orders in the first week after opening preorders, though no units had been delivered at the time of reporting.crypto

Valuation and Market Context

A deal at roughly $6 billion would fall below the $10 billion valuation at which 1X sought to raise $1 billion last fall, a round that ultimately secured less than half its target. The broader humanoid robotics market is heating up: Counterpoint Research reported on August 20 that global humanoid shipments in the first half of 2026 exceeded 22,000, a nearly 300 percent year-over-year increase. Still, the sector's volatility was on display when Unitree saw its shares surge 460 percent on its Shanghai debut on August 19, only to lose roughly 45 percent of that gain over the following three sessions.cryptopolitan+1