SoftBank is in talks to control OpenAI-backed 1X at $6B

Signals Inbox·August 26, 2026·Humanoid Robotics

SoftBank is in talks to buy a majority stake in humanoid developer 1X at about a $6 billion valuation. That would put another major robotics asset under Masayoshi Son after SoftBank's $5.4 billion agreement to buy ABB's robotics division, making physical AI look increasingly like a consolidation strategy rather than scattered venture bets.

Q1Where does the deal report come from?

The Information's original report says SoftBank is discussing a majority stake in 1X at roughly a $6 billion valuation. 1X's official site continues to position Neo as a home humanoid platform.

Q2How does $6 billion compare with 1X's past?

The Information says 1X was valued around $820 million in January 2025 and later tried to raise at $10 billion. A $6 billion control deal would still be more than seven times that 2025 valuation, but below the company's previous fundraising ambition.

Q3Why does SoftBank want control?

SoftBank has made physical AI a major strategic theme. It already agreed to acquire ABB's robotics business for $5.4 billion and has backed other robotics companies, so controlling 1X would add a consumer-humanoid platform to that stack.

Q4What still has to be proven?

Deliveries and economics. 1X took more than 10,000 Neo orders in its first week according to The Information, but the hard step is turning reservations into safe, useful robots produced at acceptable cost.