SoftBank Group and Nvidia are reportedly in discussions to invest in Skild AI as part of a funding round worth more than $1 billion. According to sources and documents reviewed by Reuters, this deal could value the robotics-focused AI company at about $14 billion.
If finalized, the new valuation would be nearly three times higher than Skild AI’s previous $4.7 billion valuation from its $500 million Series B round earlier this year. That round included investors such as Nvidia, LG’s venture arm and Samsung, according to PitchBook.
Skild AI was founded in 2023 by former Meta AI researchers and is supported by Amazon.com and Lightspeed Venture Partners. The company is working to solve one of the main barriers limiting the adoption of general-purpose robots in homes and factories. Its goal is to create universal software that can act as a robot’s central intelligence.
Unlike firms that develop physical machines, Skild AI builds AI models for robots of all shapes and sizes. Its technology relies on large amounts of data to train robots in perception and decision-making, aiming to give them human-like capabilities.
The ongoing talks highlight the growing investment interest in humanoid robotics, driven by rapid progress in artificial intelligence. However, experts note that fully general-purpose robots still face major technical challenges and may take years to reach widespread commercial use.
Skild AI and SoftBank have not commented on the reported negotiations, while Nvidia also declined to respond. A source said the discussions are ongoing and details could still change, but the deal is expected to be completed before Christmas.
SoftBank was particularly impressed with Skild AI’s technology in pilot programs, according to a person familiar with the matter who requested anonymity.
Robotics remains central to SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son’s long-term strategy. In October, the company acquired the robotics division of Swiss engineering firm ABB for $5.4 billion.
In the United States, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has been meeting with industry leaders to accelerate robotics development. The Trump administration is also considering an executive order on robotics next year, Politico recently reported.
Skild AI introduced its first general-purpose AI model in July. The company said the system can adapt to a wide variety of environments and tasks, ranging from warehouse operations to household activities.
Last year, Skild AI raised $300 million at a valuation of $1.5 billion during its Series A funding round, which included investments from Jeff Bezos, SoftBank Group and Khosla Ventures.
