SoftBank’s Reported 1X Deal: What the $6 Billion Humanoid-Robot Bet Means

SoftBank is reportedly in talks to acquire a majority stake in Norwegian humanoid-robotics company 1X Technologies in a transaction that would value the startup at about $6 billion. The report, first attributed to The Information, has not been independently confirmed by Reuters; the talks are ongoing, and the terms could change. SoftBank and 1X had not immediately commented in the reporting. 17

The potential deal matters less as a completed transaction than as a signal of where SoftBank wants to compete next: in Physical AI, the emerging category of systems that combine software intelligence with machines able to act in the real world.

What is actually known about the reported deal?

The reported transaction would give SoftBank control of 1X, rather than simply adding another minority investment to its portfolio. The approximate valuation is $6 billion, but there is no confirmed purchase agreement, final price, ownership percentage beyond the reported majority stake, or closing date in the available reporting. 111

That distinction is important. A reported negotiation is not the same as a signed acquisition, and an indicated valuation is not necessarily the final price paid. Until the companies disclose definitive terms, the $6 billion figure should be treated as a reported negotiation value rather than an established market valuation.

Why 1X fits SoftBank’s “Physical AI” strategy

SoftBank’s apparent interest is strategically understandable. Its investment thesis has increasingly extended beyond AI models and data-center infrastructure toward machines that can perform useful work in physical environments. A humanoid robot could become the interface through which AI systems interact with homes, factories, offices, and other workplaces.

1X would give SoftBank exposure to the consumer side of that opportunity. Its NEO robot is designed for household use, while SoftBank’s separate agreement to acquire ABB’s robotics business would provide exposure to established industrial automation. Reports put the ABB transaction at approximately $5.4 billion. 913

The two businesses would not be identical: ABB’s operations center on industrial robotics, while 1X is pursuing a much earlier-stage home humanoid market. If both transactions were completed, SoftBank would have a presence across two very different parts of robotics—factory automation and general-purpose consumer machines.

The OpenAI connection makes the deal more significant

1X is not a random robotics target for SoftBank. The company was formerly known as Halodi Robotics and raised $23.5 million in a March 2023 Series A2 round led by the OpenAI Startup Fund, with participation from Tiger Global and Norway-based investors. 4955

SoftBank has separately committed up to $30 billion in follow-on investment to OpenAI under a definitive agreement announced in February 2026. SoftBank said that completing the investment would bring its cumulative OpenAI investment to $64.6 billion and give it an expected ownership interest of approximately 13%. 52

That creates a clear strategic link: SoftBank would potentially control a robotics company already backed by OpenAI while substantially increasing its financial exposure to OpenAI itself. The available reporting also says OpenAI and 1X discussed a possible acquisition in the past, although those talks did not produce a deal. 1

The connection should not be overstated. OpenAI’s investment in 1X does not establish that OpenAI would control, operate, or integrate the company under a SoftBank transaction. It simply helps explain why 1X is strategically relevant within SoftBank’s broader AI portfolio.

What 1X’s NEO product says about the opportunity—and the risk

1X’s consumer humanoid, NEO, is offered at $20,000 for early access or $499 per month through a subscription model. First U.S. deliveries are planned for 2026. 3341

The company has also been associated with reports of more than 10,000 early orders or reservations. That figure should be interpreted carefully. Preorders and production-capacity reservations are not the same as delivered robots, recognized hardware revenue, or evidence that customers will maintain a subscription over time. 1037

This is the central commercial test for 1X. A compelling demonstration can attract attention and deposits, but a home robot must also operate safely, reliably, and affordably in unpredictable environments. It must handle ordinary household tasks repeatedly—not just perform well in controlled demonstrations.

How the reported $6 billion valuation compares with 1X’s earlier target

The reported valuation would also look lower than 1X’s earlier reported fundraising ambition. In 2025, the company was reported to be seeking as much as $1 billion at a valuation of at least $10 billion. 3453

That comparison does not automatically make the potential SoftBank transaction a down round. The two situations may involve different structures: a fundraising target is not the same as a majority acquisition, and the final economics could reflect control rights, new capital, secondary sales, investor preferences, or other terms that are not public.

The more defensible conclusion is narrower: the reported $6 billion figure is below the earlier $10 billion target, but the available information is insufficient to explain the difference or determine whether it represents a change in underlying business value.

A fast-growing market with signs of speculation

The timing reflects a surge of interest in humanoid robotics. Counterpoint Research said global humanoid-robot shipments exceeded 22,000 units in the first half of 2026, up nearly 300% year over year. 25

But shipment growth does not yet prove that the industry has reached durable, profitable scale. The market remains concentrated in early deployments, research, data collection, entertainment, and performance applications, according to the same research summary. 25

Investor behavior has also been volatile. Unitree’s shares closed about 460% above their IPO price in their Shanghai debut, then fell roughly 45% from their debut peak over the following days, prompting renewed concerns about a robotics bubble. 1719

Those market moves do not determine whether 1X’s technology will succeed. They do show why a SoftBank investment would be interpreted both as a strategic endorsement and as part of a highly speculative technology cycle.

What the deal would—and would not—prove

If completed, a SoftBank majority investment would be a strong signal that Masayoshi Son views humanoid robots as a strategic extension of AI rather than a standalone hardware niche. It could give 1X greater access to capital, manufacturing expertise, distribution, and SoftBank’s wider technology network.

It would not prove that humanoids are ready for mass adoption. The unresolved questions would remain the same:

• Can NEO perform useful tasks with consistent autonomy?
• Can 1X manufacture at scale while maintaining safety and quality?
• Will early reservations convert into deliveries and recurring revenue?
• Can a $20,000 purchase price or $499 monthly subscription support a sustainable business?
• How will 1X compete as larger technology and robotics companies enter the market?

For now, the clearest reading is that SoftBank may be trying to secure a leading position in the physical layer of AI. The reported 1X talks are significant because of that strategic ambition—not because they have yet validated the economics of consumer humanoid robots.