SoftBank in Talks to Lead Funding for Robotics Startup Skild AI

Tokyo-based SoftBank is in discussions to lead a funding round for Skild AI, potentially raising the robotics start-up’s valuation to nearly $4 billion, as per reports. This investment, backed by SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son, would more than double Skild’s previous valuation.

The investment would surpass the $300 million raised in Skild’s first funding round in July 2023. However, talks are still in the early stages, and a final agreement is not guaranteed. SoftBank and Skild have not responded to inquiries.

Founded in Pittsburgh in 2023, Skild AI aims to develop a scalable foundation model for robotics. The company describes its AI system as a “general-purpose brain” that enables robots to function with agility, dexterity, and safety, increasing automation potential in real-world applications.  

Skild’s previous funding round, led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, Coatue, SoftBank, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ Bezos Expeditions, valued the company at $1.5 billion. Lightspeed is expected to participate in the new round, but it remains unclear which other investors will join.

Robotics is becoming a key focus in the AI industry. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has shifted his focus towards humanoid robots. At the same time, NVIDIA chief Jensen Huang recently called robotics a “multitrillion-dollar” opportunity, with the company striking a deal with Toyota for self-driving technology.  

SoftBank’s investment aligns with Son’s broader AI vision, which includes data centres, autonomous driving, and robotics, with chip design firm Arm at the core.  

This development follows SoftBank’s recent partnership with OpenAI to launch The Stargate Project, a $500 billion AI infrastructure project. SoftBank will take financial responsibility for the initiative, which involves partners such as MGX, Oracle, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Arm.  

However, questions remain over Stargate’s feasibility. The project has yet to secure the necessary funding and will receive no government support. 

The AI industry’s rapid growth has also sparked debate on cost efficiency. Chinese start-up DeepSeek recently demonstrated the ability to develop AI models on smaller budgets, raising concerns over the long-term sustainability of Western firms’ high-cost AI infrastructure strategies.