SoftBank is making a bold move to place humanoid robotics at the very core of its artificial intelligence strategy.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the Japanese conglomerate is in discussions to acquire a controlling stake in 1X Technologies, the humanoid robot developer, at a valuation of roughly $6 billion. The negotiations are still ongoing, and the final terms could shift.
If the deal goes through, it would provide 1X with substantial capital to advance the development and commercial rollout of its soft-bodied robots designed for home environments. This marks SoftBank's most significant commitment to the humanoid robotics sector to date.
A valuation reset amid funding challenges
The $6 billion price tag represents a double-edged sword for 1X. Reports citing two informed sources indicate that the company sought to raise $1 billion at a $10 billion valuation last autumn, but ultimately secured less than half of its target.
The valuation SoftBank is now offering falls below the share price from 1X's most recent funding round, yet it remains a substantial premium over the $820 million valuation the company commanded in January 2025—even though 1X's current revenue generation may still be quite limited.
OpenAI's earlier interest fizzled out
Before SoftBank entered the picture, OpenAI had also been a potential suitor. Sources reveal that OpenAI and 1X discussed a possible acquisition last year, but those talks failed to gain traction.
The connection between OpenAI and 1X dates back to 2023, when OpenAI invested through its startup fund, the OpenAI Startup Fund, to support early-stage companies and provide them with access to its early AI models.
OpenAI's ambitions in robotics are no secret. In June, CEO Sam Altman expressed at a Y Combinator event that he is "very enthusiastic" about humanoid robots, noting their potential to accelerate data center construction. However, OpenAI's head of robotics, Caitlin Kalinowski, departed in March, reportedly due to concerns over the company's rushed partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense.
Masayoshi Son's persistent robotics vision
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son's history with robotics investments is long, though not without its setbacks. The company discontinued its Pepper humanoid robot in 2020 and sold 80% of Boston Dynamics in 2021, with the remaining shares offloaded this past July.
Yet breakthroughs in AI have reignited SoftBank's enthusiasm. In October, the firm acquired ABB's robotics division for $5.4 billion, invested in the industrial humanoid company Agile Robots, and has previously explored acquisition discussions with industrial robotics firms such as Agility Robotics, as reported earlier.
Son has been explicit about his vision: "Physical AI is SoftBank's next frontier." He predicts that the fusion of AI with physical devices will give rise to the next trillion-dollar enterprise.
To this end, SoftBank has established a new joint venture, Roze AI, dedicated to AI and robotics, with plans to take it public later this year or in early 2026.
1X's product and technology roadmap
1X Technologies, now 12 years old, centers its efforts on a soft-bodied humanoid robot named Neo, designed for household assistance and domestic chores.
In October, 1X opened pre-orders for Neo at a price of $20,000, with deliveries slated for 2026. The company reports that first-week pre-orders surpassed 10,000 units, though no robots have yet been shipped to consumers.
On the technology front, 1X unveiled its "world model" in January—an AI system that controls the robot by predicting the next frame of video, an approach gaining increasing traction in the robotics research community. This July, the company detailed its five-fingered robotic hand, which employs motors in the forearm to drive "tendons" that extend through the wrist to enable fine motor control.
Should SoftBank finalize this acquisition, it would secure ongoing financial backing for 1X's AI model research and hardware engineering—both of which demand significant computational resources.