SoftBank Invests $500M in Robotics Startup Skild AI

SoftBank in Talks to Invest in Skild AI

SoftBank is currently in discussions to provide a $500 million investment into Skild AI. This software firm is focused on developing a core model designed for applications in the field of robotics.

The potential valuation for Skild AI, as reported by Bloomberg and the Financial Times, is estimated at $4 billion.

Recent Funding and Growth

Just two years after its founding, Skild AI secured $300 million in funding last July. This previous round established a valuation of $1.5 billion.

Notable investors in that earlier stage included Jeff Bezos, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Coatue Management.

Skild AI’s Technology

According to founders Deepak Pathak and Abhinav Gupta, the company’s AI model possesses broad applicability across diverse robotic platforms. They shared this insight with TechCrunch last July.

The model’s architecture allows for adaptation and refinement to suit specific applications and specialized robotic domains.

Investor Interest in Robotics and AI

The convergence of artificial intelligence and robotics is attracting significant capital from investors.

There has been a marked increase in funding directed towards companies developing AI-driven robotic solutions, particularly over the past year.

Other Notable Investments

Physical Intelligence, a startup valued at $2 billion in a $400 million funding round last November, is also developing advanced AI for robots.

This funding round was spearheaded by Jeff Bezos, Lux Capital, and Thrive Capital.

In February of the previous year, Figure AI, which is building a humanoid robot powered by AI, raised $675 million.

This brought Figure AI’s valuation to $2.6 billion, with investment coming from Microsoft, the OpenAI Startup Fund, Nvidia, the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund, and Jeff Bezos (via Bezos Expeditions).

These investments demonstrate a growing confidence in the future of AI-enhanced robotics.