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SoftBank Expands AI Footprint With Multibillion-Dollar Robotics Deal
Yahoo Financeยท2025-10-08 12:19

Core Insights - SoftBank Group has entered into a $5.4 billion agreement to acquire ABB's industrial-robotics business, aiming to merge artificial intelligence with robotics [1][2] - CEO Masayoshi Son envisions this fusion as a transformative evolution for humanity, reflecting his long-standing interest in robotics and AI [2][3] - SoftBank's stock has surged over 300% in the past six months, historically prompting the company to pursue aggressive acquisitions [2] Investment Strategy - The company has made significant investments in AI and related sectors, including a $30 billion commitment to OpenAI, a $2 billion investment in Intel, and a $6.5 billion acquisition of Ampere [3] - Son has expressed intentions to integrate robotics into chip-manufacturing facilities to enhance AI capabilities [3] Historical Context - SoftBank's robotics investments have been inconsistent, with notable failures such as a $375 million investment in Zume, a robot pizza-making startup that did not last [6] - Previous ventures included the development of the Pepper robot, which was designed to recognize human emotions but ceased operations in June 2023 [6] - The company sold Boston Dynamics in 2021 for around $1 billion after years of investment, and another portfolio company, Autostore, has seen its stock decline over 60% since its 2021 listing [7]