Core Insights - Skild AI is in talks for a new funding round exceeding $1 billion, which could nearly double its valuation to $14 billion from $4.7 billion during its last funding round in June 2023 [1][2] - The U.S. government, under the Trump administration, is actively promoting the robotics industry, with plans for an executive order on robotics next year [2][7] Group 1: Investment and Valuation - SoftBank and NVIDIA are negotiating to invest in Skild AI, which has shown impressive technology in pilot projects [2][3] - Skild AI raised $500 million in its B round of funding, led by SoftBank, with participation from NVIDIA and others, achieving a valuation of $4.7 billion [2][3] - The robotics investment landscape is rapidly growing, with projections indicating that funding in the sector could reach $2.3 billion by 2025, doubling from the previous year [3] Group 2: Company Overview - Skild AI, founded in 2023 by former Meta AI researchers, focuses on developing AI models for various types of robots rather than manufacturing hardware [4][5] - The company released its first general AI model in July 2023, capable of adapting to a wide range of tasks from logistics to household chores [5] - Skild AI collaborates with NVIDIA to develop a foundational model called Skild Brain, which can be trained with minimal additional input to acquire new skills [5] Group 3: Government Initiatives and Industry Trends - The U.S. Department of Commerce is committed to advancing robotics and advanced manufacturing, emphasizing their importance in bringing critical production back to the U.S. [7] - There is a growing interest in robotics within the U.S. Congress, with proposals for establishing a national robotics committee [7] - The global humanoid robot market is projected to reach $38 billion by 2035, highlighting the increasing demand for robotic solutions [3]

Group 1: AI Development Plans - The Japanese government aims to increase public AI usage from 50% to 80%, positioning AI as a core driver of economic growth [2][3] - A policy goal includes attracting approximately 1 trillion yen (about 6.8 billion USD) in private investment to enhance R&D activities [2] - The government plans to implement AI across all departments and promote its use among all government employees [2] Group 2: Data Center Challenges - Japan's data center construction faces rising costs, with overall construction expenses increasing by about 15% from 2021 to 2023, while data center costs surged by 69% during the same period [5] - Tokyo has been identified as the city with the highest data center construction costs globally for the second consecutive year, exacerbated by a weak yen [5] - Labor costs in the construction industry have risen approximately 1.3 times since 2012, contributing to the overall increase in data center construction costs [5][6] Group 3: Labor and Infrastructure Issues - A shortage of skilled labor, particularly "electrical chief technicians," is a significant bottleneck in data center construction and operation [7] - The slow adoption of digital construction technologies, such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), is prolonging project timelines, with Japan taking nearly twice as long as Singapore to complete similar projects [8] - The insufficient power supply infrastructure in regions with concentrated data centers poses additional challenges for new connections and expansions [9] Group 4: Social and Environmental Constraints - Land scarcity in densely populated areas like Tokyo and Osaka is limiting the construction of new data centers [10] - Local opposition to large data center projects is growing, with residents expressing concerns over aesthetics and the environmental impact of high energy consumption [10] - Japan's renewable energy adoption remains low, with only 22% of total electricity generation coming from renewable sources in 2022, raising questions about the compatibility of industrial growth and environmental goals [9][10]

【环球网科技综合报道】12月9日消息，据cna援引路透社报道称，软银集团与英伟达正就一项对机器人基础模型公司 Skild AI 的重大投资展开深入谈判。此 轮融资规模预计超过10亿美元，若顺利完成，将使 Skild AI 的估值达到约140亿美元，较其今年早些时候B轮融资时的47亿美元增长近两倍。 资料显示，Skild AI 成立于2023年，由前 MetaAI研究人员创立，专注于开发通用人工智能软件系统，旨在作为各类机器人的"大脑"。该公司不涉足硬件制 造，而是通过训练基于海量数据的AI模型，赋予不同形态的机器人类似人类的感知、推理与决策能力，以解决当前通用机器人在工厂、仓储及家庭环境中 部署受限的核心瓶颈。 根据 PitchBook 数据，Skild 在2024年完成的B轮融资中已获得包括英伟达、LG风险投资部门和三星在内的战略投资者支持。更早的A轮融资于2023年完成， 筹集3亿美元，估值达15亿美元，投资方涵盖亚马逊创始人杰夫·贝佐斯、软银集团及科斯拉风险投资公司等。 消息人士透露，软银在内部试点项目中对 Skild 的技术表现印象深刻，认为其平台具备跨场景适应能力，可广泛应用于物流、制造业乃至家庭服 ...

人工智能AIETF（515070）跟踪CS人工智能主题指数（930713），成分股选取为人工智能提供技术、 基础资源以及应用端个股，聚集人工智能产业链上中游，俗称"机器人"大脑"缔造者"，万物互联"地 基"。前十大权重股包括中际旭创、新易盛、寒武纪-U、中科曙光、科大讯飞、豪威集团、海康威视、 澜起科技、金山办公、紫光股份等国内科技龙头。 相关产品：人工智能AIETF（515070）、创业板人工智能ETF华夏（159381）、科创人工智能ETF华夏 （589010）。 A股开盘三大指数集体走强。盘面上，商业航天、CPO、人形机器人板块盘初拉升，表现强势，人工智 能AIETF（515070）盘中涨超2%，其持仓股润泽科技大涨7.45%，光环新网、浪潮信息、中际旭创、北 京君正涨幅均超3%。 消息面上，12月9日，据路透社报道，软银集团与英伟达正在洽谈牵头对Skild AI进行一轮逾10亿美元的 投资，对该公司的估值约为140亿美元。Skild AI 是一家致力于构建基础机器人模型的软件公司。据 PitchBook数据显示，这家成立近三年的初创企业上一次估值为47亿美元，当时是在今年5月完成了一轮 5亿美元的融资 ...

Core Insights - The article discusses a significant investment opportunity in the robotics sector, particularly focusing on Skild AI, which is in talks for a funding round exceeding $1 billion, potentially raising its valuation to $14 billion, nearly double its previous valuation of $4.7 billion during its last funding round [1][3][6]. Investment and Valuation - Skild AI, founded in 2023, aims to develop a universal software "brain" for robots, overcoming deployment barriers in various environments [7]. - The company raised $500 million in its B round of funding in June 2023, with SoftBank leading the investment [3][6]. - If the new funding round is successful, Skild AI's valuation will increase significantly, reflecting investor interest in humanoid robotics as AI advancements enable more complex tasks [3][6]. Government Support and Industry Trends - The U.S. government, under the Trump administration, is reportedly pushing for the development of the robotics industry, with plans for an executive order on robotics next year [4][10]. - The U.S. Commerce Department has confirmed its commitment to the robotics sector, emphasizing its importance for bringing critical manufacturing back to the U.S. [10]. - There is a growing interest in establishing a national robotics strategy to support the emerging industry and maintain competitiveness against countries like China, which has significantly more industrial robots [10][11]. Market Potential and Future Outlook - Investment demand in the robotics sector is surging, with projections indicating that funding could reach $2.3 billion by 2025, doubling from the previous year [6]. - Goldman Sachs estimates that the global humanoid robotics market could reach $38 billion by 2035 [6]. - Experts caution that achieving truly universal robotic applications remains technically challenging and may take years for widespread implementation [9].

Group 1 - SoftBank Group and NVIDIA are negotiating to lead a funding round of over $1 billion for Skild AI, valuing the company at approximately $14 billion [1] - Skild AI, founded nearly three years ago, had a previous valuation of $4.7 billion after raising $500 million in May, led by SoftBank with participation from LG Technology Ventures, Samsung, and NVIDIA [3] - Skild AI focuses on developing a robot-agnostic foundational model that can be customized for different types of robots and applications, rather than creating proprietary hardware [3] Group 2 - Skild AI released its universal robot model "Skild Brain" in July, showcasing capabilities such as picking up utensils and navigating stairs [3] - The interest in AI robotics is increasing, with another company, Physical Intelligence, recently completing a $600 million funding round, valuing it at $5.6 billion [4] - In September, humanoid robot company Figure completed a funding round exceeding $1 billion, achieving a valuation of $39 billion [4]

Core Insights - SoftBank Group and Nvidia are in discussions to invest in Skild AI, targeting a funding round exceeding $1 billion, which could potentially value Skild AI at approximately $14 billion [1] Group 1: Investment Details - The funding round is expected to be significant, with contributions from major players like SoftBank and Nvidia [1] - The investment aims to support the development of foundation models for robots, indicating a focus on advanced AI technologies [1] Group 2: Company Valuation - If the funding round is successful, Skild AI's valuation could reach around $14 billion, highlighting the growing interest and potential in the AI sector [1]

Core Viewpoint - SoftBank Group is in discussions to acquire DigitalBridge Group Inc., aiming to enhance its digital infrastructure portfolio amid a growing demand for AI-driven services [1][2]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - SoftBank is reportedly negotiating to buy DigitalBridge and take it private, with a potential deal expected to be finalized by the end of this year [2]. - The acquisition talks could lead to an agreement in the coming weeks, although no certainty exists regarding the outcome [2]. Group 2: Market Context - Investors have invested record capital into digital infrastructure this year, anticipating that increasing power demand will elevate data centers as valuable assets [3]. - McKinsey projects that spending on AI-linked infrastructure could reach $6.7 trillion by 2030, indicating a significant market opportunity [3]. Group 3: DigitalBridge Performance - DigitalBridge shares experienced a 45% increase, marking its largest one-day gain ever, following the news of SoftBank's acquisition discussions [4]. - The stock closed at $14.12, giving DigitalBridge a market value of $2.58 billion, despite a 13% decline in its stock price earlier this year [4]. Group 4: DigitalBridge's Assets - DigitalBridge, led by CEO Marc Ganzi, had assets under management valued at $108 billion as of September, with a portfolio that includes various digital infrastructure operators [5]. Group 5: SoftBank's Strategic Moves - SoftBank, under Masayoshi Son, aims to capitalize on the rising demand for computing capacity essential for AI applications [6]. - The company announced a $500 billion project called Stargate to build data centers in the U.S., in collaboration with OpenAI, Oracle Corp., and Abu Dhabi's MGX [6]. - However, the rollout of the Stargate project has faced delays due to disagreements over data center locations [7].

Market Overview - US stock market continued to rise on December 5, supported by expectations of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts and positive US-China trade signals, with all three major indices closing higher [1] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 0.22% to 47,954.99 points, the Nasdaq Composite rose by 0.31% to 23,578.13 points, and the S&P 500 gained 0.19% to close at 6,870.40 points, marking four consecutive days of gains for the S&P 500 [1] Technology Sector Performance - Major US technology stocks mostly rose, with the US Tech Giants Index increasing by 0.20%. Facebook saw a nearly 2% rise, Google over 1%, Microsoft up 0.48%, Amazon up 0.18%, and Tesla up 0.1% [2] - Despite declines in Apple and Nvidia by 0.68% and 0.53% respectively, the overall performance of technology stocks remained strong [2] Chinese Stocks Performance - The Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index rose by 1.29%, with notable individual stock performances including Baidu up nearly 6%, Xiaomi over 2%, Meituan nearly 2%, and Xpeng, iQIYI, and TAL Education all up over 2% [3] - Dingdong Maicai led the gains among Chinese stocks with an increase of over 11% [3] Mergers and Acquisitions - Netflix announced its agreement to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery for approximately $72 billion [4] - SoftBank is reportedly in talks to acquire AI infrastructure investment company DigitalBridge [4] - Albemarle, the world's largest lithium producer, saw a 5% increase in stock price after UBS upgraded its rating from "neutral" to "buy" and raised the target price from $107 to $185 per share [4] Commodity Market Movements - Gold prices experienced volatility, closing at $4,197.4 per ounce, down 0.26%, after initially rising over 1% [5] - Silver prices, after reaching a historical high, ultimately closed up 2.07% [5] - In the oil market, WTI crude oil futures for January delivery rose by 0.69% to $60.08 per barrel, while Brent crude for February delivery increased by 0.49% to $63.75 per barrel, supported by ongoing geopolitical risks [5] Cryptocurrency Market - The cryptocurrency market faced pressure, with Bitcoin dropping below $89,000, down 3.59% in a single day, and major altcoins like Ethereum and Solana also experiencing declines of over 3% [8] US-China Trade Relations - Positive signals emerged from US-China trade relations, with discussions between Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Yellen focusing on practical cooperation and addressing mutual concerns in the economic field [9] Federal Reserve Interest Rate Expectations - Market attention is on the Federal Reserve's interest rate cut expectations, with the core PCE price index for September at 2.8%, below the expected 2.9%, reinforcing the likelihood of a rate cut next week [10] - The probability of a 25 basis point rate cut next week is at 87%, according to CME's FedWatch tool [10]

Group 1 - SpaceX is initiating a new round of share sales with a target valuation of $800 billion (approximately 5.65 trillion RMB) and aims for an IPO in the second half of next year [2] - OpenAI plans to release GPT-5.2 next week to compete with Google's Gemini 3, which has received high praise from industry leaders [2] - Ukraine's armed forces attacked Russian infrastructure, including a port and an oil refinery, which could impact oil supply for the Russian military [2] Group 2 - The U.S. stock market saw slight gains, with the Dow Jones up 0.22%, Nasdaq up 0.31%, and S&P 500 up 0.19%, with major tech stocks mostly rising [3][4] - The Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index rose by 1.3%, with notable gains in Chinese stocks such as Baidu, which increased by 5.8% [3] Group 3 - Netflix announced a $72 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery's film and streaming business, with shareholders receiving $27.75 per share in cash and Netflix stock [7] - Ronaldo has officially acquired shares in the AI startup Perplexity AI, marking a significant investment move [8] - SoftBank is reportedly in talks to acquire DigitalBridge to capitalize on the AI-driven digital infrastructure boom [9] Group 4 - Microsoft shareholders approved a compensation package for CEO Satya Nadella, increasing his pay to $96.5 million, primarily in stock awards [10] - Meta has acquired AI wearable company Limitless, which produces AI-driven devices for recording conversations and generating summaries [11] - The EU fined Musk's platform "X" €120 million for violating content regulations [12] Group 5 - Nvidia's market share in China's AI chip market is projected to shrink to 8% by 2026, while local companies like Huawei are expected to dominate [13] - The GPU leader Moore Threads saw a 425.46% increase on its first trading day, achieving a market cap of 282.3 billion RMB [14] - Baidu's Kunlun chip business is reportedly preparing for an IPO in Hong Kong, aiming for a valuation close to $3 billion [15] Group 6 - Foxconn reported a record revenue of NT$844.3 billion for November 2025, a 25.53% year-on-year increase, driven by AI cabinet shipments [18] - The Chinese government is set to introduce its first administrative regulations for listed companies, enhancing governance and investor protection [21]