SoftBank and Nvidia Lead New $1 Billion Bet on Robotics AI Startup

A major new funding round is taking shape in the world of AI robotics. Skild AI, a startup creating a foundational model for robots, is in talks to raise over $1 billion. This investment would be led by tech giants SoftBank Group and Nvidia. The deal is expected to value the Pittsburgh-based company at roughly $14 billion.

This move signals intense investor confidence in general-purpose robotics software. According to Reuters, the talks highlight the growing race to develop the “brains” that will power future robots across industries.

Valuation Soars on Investor Confidence

The potential new valuation marks a stunning leap for the young company. Skild AI was last valued at $4.7 billion in May of this year. That earlier $500 million round was also led by SoftBank. Other investors included LG Technology Ventures and Samsung.

The latest talks involve many of the same powerful backers. Nvidia’s continued participation is particularly notable. The chipmaker is a dominant force in providing the hardware needed for advanced AI training.

Building a Universal Brain for Robots

Unlike many rivals, Skild AI is not focused on building robot bodies. The company’s software, called Skild Brain, is designed to be a general-purpose intelligence. This model can be adapted for many different types of machines and tasks. The goal is to create a single, powerful AI that can learn to perform countless physical actions.

The company demonstrated its progress in July. It released videos showing robots performing diverse tasks. These included picking up dishes and navigating stairs. Skild has also formed key partnerships with firms like LG CNS and Hewlett Packard Enterprise to build its ecosystem.

Investor excitement in this sector is skyrocketing. Another firm, Physical Intelligence, recently raised $600 million for a similar “robotics brain” model. Humanoid robot companies like Figure and 1X have also secured massive valuations. The competition to lead the next wave of automation is fully underway.

This potential $1 billion investment underscores a pivotal shift in the AI landscape. Capital is flooding into startups building the intelligence that will animate the next generation of robots. The race to fund the leading robotics AI startup is now a central battleground for tech’s biggest players.

Dropping this nugget your way

Q1: What is Skild AI’s valuation in this new round?

The new funding round would value Skild AI at approximately $14 billion. This is nearly triple its $4.7 billion valuation from just a few months ago in May.

Q2: What does Skild AI’s software actually do?

Skild AI develops a foundational AI model called Skild Brain. It is not robot hardware, but a software “brain” intended to be adapted for many different types of robots and physical tasks.

Q3: Who are the main investors in this deal?

The talks are led by SoftBank Group and Nvidia. These are repeat investors, as both participated in Skild AI’s previous major funding round earlier this year.

Q4: How does this fit into broader AI robotics trends?

Investment in AI for physical robots is surging. Other companies, like Physical Intelligence and Figure, have also secured billions in funding recently, indicating a major market trend.

Q5: Why is this type of AI model significant?

A general-purpose model could avoid the need to build new AI for every single robot task. This approach aims for a versatile intelligence that can learn and adapt, potentially speeding up robot deployment across sectors.