- SoftBank is in talks to invest $500M in robotics AI company SkildAI at a $4 billion valuation.
- SkildAI's valuation has nearly tripled since its last funding round in July.
- This investment represents a growing trend of major backing for AI-powered robotics firms.
SoftBank is in advanced talks to invest $500 million in SkildAI, a cutting-edge startup developing foundational artificial intelligence models for robotics, according to reports from Bloomberg and Financial Times.
The investment would value the two-year-old company at $4 billion, representing a dramatic increase from its $1.5 billion valuation just seven months ago.
The potential investment marks a significant vote of confidence in SkildAI's technology, which aims to create versatile AI models adaptable to various types of robots.
Founded by Deepak Pathak and Abhinav Gupta, the company has already attracted notable investors, including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Coatue Management, who participated in a $300 million funding round last July.
The investment reflects a broader trend of increasing interest in the convergence of robotics and artificial intelligence.
Similar companies in the space have recently secured substantial funding, including Physical Intelligence's $400 million raise at a $2 billion valuation and Figure AI's $675 million funding round at a $2.6 billion valuation.
Both deals notably featured participation from Jeff Bezos, alongside other prominent investors such as Microsoft, OpenAI Startup Fund, and Nvidia.
SkildAI's technology stands out for its adaptability, with founders claiming their generalized AI model can be modified for specific robotic applications and use cases.
This versatility appears to be a key factor driving investor interest, as the industry moves toward more flexible and intelligent robotic systems.
Edited By Annette George
