SoftBank to Acquire ABB's Robotics Unit for $5.4 Billion
The acquisition is a key part of SoftBank's strategy to pursue "Physical AI," combining artificial intelligence with industrial automation.
A Major Push into "Physical AI"
SoftBank Group on Oct. 8, 2025, announced it has agreed to acquire the robotics division of Swiss engineering firm ABB for $5.4 billion in cash. The acquisition is a significant strategic bet that the future of artificial intelligence extends beyond digital services into the physical world, where AI agents will control and operate machinery.
SoftBank founder and CEO Masayoshi Son described the acquisition as a key step in pursuing the company's "next frontier: physical AI." The deal combines SoftBank's extensive AI investments, which include a stake in OpenAI, with ABB's established industrial robotics …
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