SoftBank Said to Consider $100 Billion Valuation for AI and Robotics Spinout in Potential U.S. IPO

SoftBank Group is planning to establish and list a Standalone Artificial Intelligence and robotics company in the United States, potentially as early as this year, the Financial Times reported Thursday.

The new venture, expected to be named “Roze,” will focus on building data centers and deploying robotics to enhance the efficiency of AI infrastructure construction, according to the report, which cited anonymous sources familiar with the matter.

SoftBank founder and CEO Masayoshi Son is Spearheading the initiative, with executives reportedly targeting a Valuation of APProximately $100 billion and AIming to pursue an initial public offering within the year. However, the report noted that both the valuation target and Timeline could change, and some SoftBank executives view the plans as ambitious, partly due to uncertainties stemming from the conflict in the Middle East.

Son’s appetite for AI risk has expanded significantly in recent years, with tens of billions of dollars committed to the sector. Yet investors have raised concerns about how SoftBank will fund these Investments, particularly its backing of OpenAI, which remains unprofitable. The proposed listing could help offset some of the major pledges, including more than $30 billion committed to openai.

Roze may also bundle existing energy, land, and infrastructure assets from SoftBank’s portfolio, as well as ABB Robotics, which SoftBank agreed to acquire last year. ABB Robotics is one of the world’s leading suppliers of robotics and machine automation solutions, and SoftBank is expected to integrate its robotics hardware with AI capabilities.

SoftBank representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC.

Son’s AI ambitions have increasingly centered on the United States, with the firm positioning itself as a major financier of American AI Infrastructure. In early 2024, SoftBank partnered with OpenAI, Oracle, and others on the Stargate project, a planned $500 billion investment to build AI data center capacity across the country. The conglomerate has also been moving quickly to develop its own Data Centers, including a large-scale project in Ohio.

In the December quarter, SoftBank posted a $2.4 billion gain in its Vision Fund as gains tied to its OpenAI investment helped offset losses in some of its other bets. The firm's shares traded 0.9% lower on Thursday but remain up more than 18% this year.