SoftBank in Talks to Buy Majority Stake in Humanoid Maker 1X at $6 Billion Valuation

SoftBank is in talks to buy a majority stake in 1X Technologies, an OpenAI-backed humanoid robot developer, in a deal that would value the startup at about $6 billion, according to people with knowledge of the deal.

The investment would buttress SoftBank’s robotics ambition. The investment would also give 1X more runway to put its soft-bodied bots in customers’ homes, where they aim to help with chores. The 12-year-old startup tried last fall to raise $1 billion at a $10 billion valuation, but it only raised less than half that target, according to two people with knowledge of the fundraise.