Japanese investing conglomerate SoftBank Group is shopping for a robotics firm because the monetary behemoth says bodily AI is its subsequent frontier.  

SoftBank introduced on Wednesday that it has acquired Zurich, Switzerland-based ABB Group’s robotics enterprise unit for $5.375 billion. The deal is topic to regulatory approval; SoftBank predicts the deal will shut in mid-to-late 2026 based on a press launch. Sami Atiya, the top of the division, will;exit the corporate as soon as the acquisition is full, per ABB Group.

ABB’s robotics enterprise employs roughly 7,000 folks and sells a wide range of robots and tools, designed for duties like selecting, cleansing, and portray. The corporate made $2.3 billion in income in 2024, representing 7% of ABB’s total income. ABB introduced plans to spin out its robotics group in April.

SoftBank mentioned it hopes to have the ability to “reignite” gross sales at ABB’s robotics spinoff. The group’s 2024 income was solely $2.3 billion, down from $2.5 billion the earlier 12 months.

SoftBank has been increase its investments and holdings in robotics over the previous couple of years. The entity has invested in firms together with extra legacy gamers like AutoStore and startups together with Skild AI and Agile Robots. 

The agency additionally launched its personal robotics platform, SoftBank Robotics Group, in 2014.  

“SoftBank’s subsequent frontier is bodily AI,” Masayoshi Son, the chairman and CEO of SoftBank mentioned within the firm’s press launch. “Along with ABB Robotics, we’ll unite world-class know-how and expertise below our shared imaginative and prescient to fuse Synthetic Tremendous Intelligence and robotics — driving a groundbreaking evolution that can propel humanity ahead.”

Robotics is one in all 4 focus areas for SoftBank, along with AI chips, AI knowledge facilities, and vitality.  

“The middle of the ‘Data Revolution’ has developed from private computer systems, the web, and broadband to smartphones, and has now entered a brand new section led by synthetic intelligence,” SoftBank mentioned in its press launch. “On this context, [SoftBank Group] has declared its mission to appreciate synthetic tremendous intelligence (ASI) for the development of humanity.” 

TechCrunch reached out to SoftBank for extra info.