# SoftBank: robot AI company

Canonical ID: `95310d9e-4092-49b2-b7e7-880ac8cfa2ad`

## Key facts

- **Type:** Investment holding company and conglomerate.
- **Robotics portfolio:** Owned [Boston Dynamics](/companies/boston-dynamics.md) from 2017 to 2022, then sold it to [Hyundai](/companies/hyundai-motor-group.md); the Vision Fund has invested in multiple robotics and AI companies.
- **Key holding:** [ARM Holdings](/companies/arm-holdings.md) (semiconductor IP).
- **RAI Institute deal (reported, Sep 2026):** Agreed to acquire the Robotics and AI Institute from [Hyundai Motor Group](/companies/hyundai-motor-group.md); terms undisclosed. Under CFIUS review and not closed. Not confirmed by SoftBank.

- **Slug:** softbank
- **Status:** public
- **Founded:** 1981
- **HQ:** Tokyo, Japan
- **Public listing:** [TYO: 9984](/public-companies.md)

## Models

_No models registered._

## Current leadership (4)

- [Masayoshi Son](/people/masayoshi-son.md) Founder & Chairman & CEO (secondary-verified)
- [Masayoshi Son](/people/masayoshi-son.md) Chairman & CEO (secondary-verified)
- [Yoshimitsu Goto](/people/yoshimitsu-goto.md) Senior Vice President, CFO & CISO (secondary-verified)
- [Ken Miyauchi](/people/ken-miyauchi.md) Board Director (secondary-verified)

## Founders (2)

- [Masayoshi Son](/people/masayoshi-son.md) _no longer at company_
- [Masayoshi Son](/people/masayoshi-son.md) (cofounder) _no longer at company_

## Partnerships (13)

- [softbank x nvidia](/partnerships/softbank-x-nvidia.md) with NVIDIA _technology_
- [softbank x aws](/partnerships/softbank-x-aws.md) with AWS _technology_
- [SoftBank x Ericsson NextWave Tech Partnership](/partnerships/softbank-x-ericsson-nextwave-tech-partnership.md) with Ericsson _development_
- [SoftBank x OpenAI Stargate Project](/partnerships/softbank-x-openai-stargate-project.md) with OpenAI _joint venture_
- [Stargate Joint Venture (OpenAI x Oracle x SoftBank x MGX)](/partnerships/stargate-joint-venture.md) with OpenAI, Oracle, MGX _joint venture_
- [SoftBank Group x OpenAI investment](/partnerships/softbank-group-x-openai-investment.md) with OpenAI _investment_
- [Skild AI Series A (2024)](/partnerships/skild-ai-series-a-2024.md) with Skild AI, Amazon, Carnegie Mellon University, Coatue, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Sequoia Capital, Bezos Expeditions _investment_
- [Wayve Series C (2024)](/partnerships/wayve-series-c-2024.md) with Wayve, NVIDIA, Eclipse Ventures, Microsoft _investment_
- [SoftBank x 1X Technologies (majority stake talks)](/partnerships/softbank-x-1x-majority-stake-talks.md) with 1X Technologies _investment_ (announced) (_reported, not operationally verified_)
- [SoftBank acquires ABB robotics division](/partnerships/softbank-acquires-abb-robotics-division.md) with ABB Robotics _technology_ (announced) (_reported, not operationally verified_)
- [Stargate UAE (G42 x OpenAI x Oracle x NVIDIA x Cisco x SoftBank)](/partnerships/stargate-uae-alliance.md) with OpenAI, Oracle, NVIDIA, G42, Cisco _joint venture_ (announced) (_reported, not operationally verified_)
- [SoftBank Group x Boston Dynamics investment](/partnerships/softbank-group-x-boston-dynamics-investment.md) with Boston Dynamics _investment_ (concluded)
- [SoftBank Group acquires Aldebaran Robotics](/partnerships/softbank-group-acquires-aldebaran-robotics.md) with SoftBank Robotics _investment_ (concluded)

## Acquisitions (4)

- [acquired RAI Institute](/acquisitions/softbank-acquires-rai-institute-2026.md) _full acquisition_ (announced) (2026-09-18)
- [acquired ABB Robotics](/acquisitions/softbank-acquires-abb-robotics-2025.md) _full acquisition_ (announced) (2025-10-08)
- [acquired Berkshire Grey](/acquisitions/softbank-acquires-berkshire-grey-2023.md) _full acquisition_ (2023-03-24)
- [acquired Boston Dynamics](/acquisitions/softbank-acquires-boston-dynamics-2017.md) _full acquisition_ (2017-06-01)

## Supplies to

_No verified supply relationships on file. Supply-chain coverage is being added across the registry; check back as the seed populates this company's outbound edges._

_Outbound supply edges. Each appears when verified with at least two strong sources. Sources are append-only; corrections add new sources rather than rewrite history._

## Common questions

### What is SoftBank?

SoftBank Group Corp. (TSE: 9984) is a Japanese investment holding conglomerate founded in 1981 by [Masayoshi Son](/people/masayoshi-son.md). Headquartered in [Tokyo](/locations/tokyo-japan.md), it manages the [SoftBank Vision Fund](/investors/softbank-vision-fund.md), [ARM Holdings](/companies/arm-holdings.md), and a global portfolio of technology investments. SoftBank owned [Boston Dynamics](/companies/boston-dynamics) from 2017 to 2022 before selling it to [Hyundai Motor Group](/companies/hyundai-motor-group.md), and has invested in numerous robotics and AI companies through its Vision Funds.

### What does SoftBank make?

SoftBank has no robot models recorded on the DEPLOY registry. SoftBank builds robot foundation models or autonomy software.

### Is SoftBank publicly traded?

Yes. SoftBank is publicly traded on public markets, per the DEPLOY registry.

### How can I invest in SoftBank?

SoftBank is publicly traded (public markets), so its shares can be bought through any broker.

### Where is SoftBank headquartered?

SoftBank is headquartered in [Tokyo, Japan](/locations/tokyo-japan.md).

### Who owns SoftBank?

SoftBank is publicly held by its shareholders.

### Is SoftBank a top robotics company?

On DEPLOY's intelligence score, which blends verified deployments, funding, hiring, media, safety, and IP signals, SoftBank ranks in roughly the top 13% of companies tracked by the registry.

### When was SoftBank founded?

SoftBank was founded in 1981.


## Sources (3)

1. https://robottoday.com/industry-briefing/softbank-to-acquire-robotics-and-ai-institute-from-hyundai-motor-group/13590 · 2026-09-18
2. https://www.asiae.co.kr/en/article/2026082107464731488 · 2026-08-21
3. https://www.theguru.co.kr/mobile/article.html?no=107323 · 2026-09-18

## The verified answers

- [What robotic company did Nvidia invest in?](/what-robotic-company-did-nvidia-invest-in.md)
- [Which physical-AI companies are publicly traded?](/public-companies.md)
- [What is the best robotics stock for 2026?](/what-is-the-best-robotics-stock-for-2026.md)
- [Which companies have the most robots deployed](/which-companies-have-the-most-robots-deployed.md)
- [Which operators run the most robots](/which-operators-run-the-most-robots.md)
- [Which robot operators cover the most countries](/which-robot-operators-cover-the-most-countries.md)
- [Which robot companies have gone public?](/which-robot-companies-have-gone-public.md)

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