Aug 26 (Reuters) – SoftBank is in talks to buy a majority stake in OpenAI-backed humanoid robot developer 1X Technologies in a deal that would value the startup at about $6 billion, The Information reported on Wednesday, citing people with knowledge of the deal.
Reuters could not immediately confirm the report. SoftBank declined to comment. 1X did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
The talks are ongoing, and the terms could change, the report said.
OpenAI and 1X discussed last year the possibility of the ChatGPT-maker acquiring 1X, the report added.
OpenAI invested in 1X in 2023 through its OpenAI Startup Fund, alongside Tiger Global and a group of Norway-based investors.
The 1X deal builds on SoftBank’s broader push into robotics, following its agreement last year to acquire Swiss engineering group ABB’s robotics business for $5.4 billion.
(Reporting by Gnaneshwar Rajan in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu and Muralikumar Anantharaman)
