SoftBank to buy ABB Robotics unit for $5.4 billion in PUSH AI

SoftBank Group It said Monday it has agreed to buy the automatic robotics division of Swiss engineering firm ABB for $5.4 billion, as the Japanese giant looks to boost its artificial intelligence plays.

The deal, which is subject to regulatory approval globally, means ABB It will not look to spin off its robotics business as a separately listed company.

“SoftBank’s next frontier is AI is AI,” Masayoshi, Softbank’s founder, said in a statement. “Together with ABB Robotics, we will unite world-class technology and talent under our shared vision of merging superintelligence and artificial robotics—driving groundbreaking development that will move humanity forward.”

Artificial super intelligence, or ASI, is Son’s idea of ​​artificial intelligence This is 10,000 times smarter than humans.

The son looked at the situation SoftBank is in the middle of a potential artificial intelligence boom Through investments and acquisitions in various areas of technology. SoftBank owns the chip designer arm, for example, and has a large stake in Openai.

SoftBank already has some robot-related investments, including Autostore Holdings and Agile Robots.

Morten Wierud, who became ABB’s CEO in August 2024, pushed the bid for the company’s robotics unit as a strategic move.

The sale “will create immediate value for ABB shareholders,” ABB said in a statement. The company said it would use proceeds from the transaction “in keeping with well-established capital allocation principles.”

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