SoftBank is reportedly negotiating to acquire a majority stake in humanoid robot developer 1X Technologies at a valuation of around $6 billion, according to The Information. The potential transaction would further position the Japanese technology investment group at the intersection of artificial intelligence and robotics, two sectors increasingly viewed as complementary components of the next phase of industrial automation.

SoftBank Expands Its Robotics Strategy

The reported discussions would represent another significant step in SoftBank’s broader push into robotics. The company agreed last year to acquire the robotics business of Swiss engineering group ABB for approximately $5.4 billion, establishing a substantial industrial robotics platform. A potential investment in 1X would extend that strategy toward humanoid machines designed to operate in environments traditionally requiring human labor.

The distinction is strategically important. Industrial robotics has primarily focused on structured environments such as factories and warehouses, while humanoid systems are being developed to perform a wider range of physical tasks. Combining robotics capabilities with increasingly sophisticated AI models could eventually allow machines to adapt to more complex environments, although commercialization, reliability and cost remain significant considerations.

1X Brings OpenAI and AI Ecosystem Connections

1X has already attracted capital and strategic interest from prominent technology investors. OpenAI invested in the Norwegian robotics company in 2023 through its OpenAI Startup Fund, alongside Tiger Global and a group of Norway-based investors. The relationship highlights the growing convergence between advanced AI developers and companies building the physical systems through which AI could interact with the real world.

According to The Information, OpenAI and 1X also discussed the possibility of an acquisition last year. Although no transaction resulted from those discussions, OpenAI’s existing investment provides 1X with an established connection to one of the world’s leading AI companies. For SoftBank, that ecosystem exposure could become strategically relevant as competition intensifies around AI-enabled physical automation.

A $6 Billion Valuation Raises Strategic Questions

The reported valuation would place 1X among the more highly valued private robotics companies, reflecting expectations for rapid growth in humanoid robotics and AI-enabled automation. However, the valuation also illustrates the gap between current technological capabilities and the longer-term economic potential being assigned to the sector.

Humanoid robotics remains an emerging market, with challenges ranging from hardware costs and battery efficiency to safety, software reliability and the ability to operate consistently outside controlled environments. For SoftBank, the potential transaction therefore represents not only an expansion opportunity but also greater exposure to a capital-intensive technology segment whose commercial economics are still developing.

What to Watch in the Potential 1X Deal

Reuters could not immediately confirm the reported negotiations, while SoftBank declined to comment and 1X did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The talks remain ongoing and their terms could change. The key developments to monitor will therefore be whether SoftBank secures a majority position, the final valuation and ownership structure, and how 1X is integrated into SoftBank’s wider robotics strategy. If completed, the transaction would signal that SoftBank sees AI-powered physical automation as an increasingly important long-term growth area, while also testing whether the substantial valuations attached to humanoid robotics can ultimately be supported by scalable commercial applications.