SoftBank is in talks to acquire a majority stake in 1X Technologies, the OpenAI-backed humanoid robot developer, in a deal that would value the Norwegian-Californian startup at approximately $6 billion1,3,5,7. The Information reported the negotiations on August 26, citing people with knowledge of the deal9. Reuters could not independently confirm the report; SoftBank declined to comment and 1X Technologies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The talks are ongoing and terms could change. The $6 billion figure represents a steep discount from the $10 billion valuation at which 1X Technologies tried to raise $1 billion last fall; the company ultimately raised less than half that target11. It does, however, mark a significant jump from the $820 million valuation 1X Technologies commanded in January 2025.
1X Technologies, originally founded in 2014 under the name Halodi Robotics, builds humanoid robots for home and workplace use14,15. Its flagship consumer product, NEO, is priced at $20,000 for an early-access purchase or $499 per month on a subscription basis. The company said it received more than 10,000 NEO orders in the first week after opening preorders in October 2025, though it has not yet delivered the robot to customers, according to The Information.
OpenAI invested in 1X Technologies in 2023 through the OpenAI Startup Fund, leading a $23.5 million Series A2 round alongside Tiger Global and a group of Norway-based investors13. OpenAI and 1X Technologies discussed the possibility of OpenAI acquiring the startup last year, but those talks did not advance.
The potential deal extends SoftBank's expanding robotics portfolio. In October 2025, SoftBank signed an agreement to acquire ABB's robotics division for $5.375 billion, a transaction expected to close in mid-to-late 2026. SoftBank has also invested in Agile Robots, which unveiled an industrial humanoid, and formed Roze AI, a robotics venture it plans to take public. SoftBank Chairman Masayoshi Son has stated that physical devices combining robotics and AI will create the next $1 trillion company.
SoftBank's robotics history includes earlier bets that did not pan out. The company acquired Boston Dynamics from Alphabet in 2017, sold an 80% controlling stake to Hyundai Motor in 2021, and offloaded its remaining Boston Dynamics shares in July 2026. SoftBank also stopped production of its Pepper humanoid in 2020.
ANALYSIS The $6 billion valuation, while well below 1X Technologies' $10 billion aspiration from last fall, would still represent a large increase from its January 2025 valuation of $820 million, underscoring how quickly humanoid robotics valuations have moved even when individual fundraising rounds fall short of targets.
U.S. deliveries of NEO are slated to begin in 2026. 1X Technologies raised $100 million in a Series B round in early 2024, with participation from EQT Ventures and Samsung NEXT.