SoftBank, Nvidia in Talks to Triple Skild AI’s Value to $14B
▼ Summary
– SoftBank and Nvidia are reportedly in talks to lead a new $1+ billion investment in Skild AI, which would value the robotics software company at $14 billion.
– Skild AI is developing a foundational, robot-agnostic AI model called Skild Brain, designed to be customized for various robots and tasks instead of proprietary hardware.
– The company recently demonstrated its model with videos of robots performing tasks like picking up dishes and navigating stairs, and has partnerships with LG CNS and Hewlett Packard Enterprise.
– Investor interest in AI robotics is high, as evidenced by other large recent funding rounds for companies like Physical Intelligence, Figure, and 1X.
– Skild AI’s last funding round was in May 2024, raising $500 million at a $4.7 billion valuation with investors including SoftBank, Nvidia, LG, and Samsung.
A major new investment could dramatically increase the value of a key player in the robotics software space. SoftBank Group and Nvidia are reportedly in advanced discussions to lead a funding round exceeding $1 billion into Skild AI, a move that would value the startup at an impressive $14 billion. This potential tripling of its worth comes just months after the company secured a $4.7 billion valuation in a previous funding round. Both SoftBank and Nvidia have declined to comment on the ongoing talks, while Skild AI has not provided an immediate response to inquiries.
The startup, founded nearly three years ago, is taking a distinct approach in the competitive field of robotics. Rather than manufacturing its own hardware, Skild AI is focused on creating a foundational software model designed to be robot-agnostic. This means its core technology, named Skild Brain, is intended to serve as a versatile “brain” that can be adapted for a wide variety of robotic forms and functions, from industrial arms to mobile platforms. The company demonstrated this general-purpose capability in July, releasing videos of robots performing tasks like picking up dishes and navigating staircases.
To support the development and deployment of its technology, Skild AI has already established important strategic alliances. The company is working with LG CNS and Hewlett Packard Enterprise to build out a robust ecosystem for its foundational model. These partnerships are crucial for integrating the software into real-world applications and scaling its adoption across different industries.
This potential mega-round for Skild AI underscores the surging investor appetite for artificial intelligence applied to physical machines. The sector is witnessing significant capital inflows, with several other companies announcing substantial raises. For instance, Physical Intelligence, which is also developing a general-purpose AI model for robots, recently secured $600 million in funding. Another firm, Figure, which builds humanoid robots, raised over $1 billion last year. Similarly, 1X, a developer of humanoid robots, was reportedly in talks to raise up to $1 billion earlier this year. This flurry of activity highlights a strong belief among major investors that AI will be the critical component powering the next generation of autonomous robots across manufacturing, logistics, and service sectors.
(Source: TechCrunch)
