Overview
- Reports from multiple outlets say SoftBank is negotiating to acquire a majority stake in 1X Technologies at a roughly $6 billion valuation, though the companies have not confirmed a deal and terms could change.
- 1X was backed by the OpenAI Startup Fund in 2023 and later held talks with OpenAI about a possible acquisition that did not result in a transaction.
- A SoftBank investment would sit alongside its planned $5.4 billion acquisition of ABB’s industrial-robotics unit and a multibillion-dollar funding commitment to OpenAI, widening the group’s exposure to hardware and AI model companies.
- 1X has opened preorders for its consumer humanoid NEO, listing an early-access price of $20,000 and a $499 monthly subscription, with U.S. deliveries planned for 2026 and a California factory sized to scale production.
- The reported $6 billion figure is materially below the $10 billion valuation 1X sought during a prior fundraising push, a gap that highlights the capital intensity and execution risks of scaling humanoid robots and could make SoftBank’s backing a crucial lifeline if the deal closes.