SoftBank in Talks to Lead $500 Million AI Robotics Funding

SoftBank Group Corp. is in talks to lead a $500 million funding round for Skild AI, a startup building robotics software, according to people familiar with the matter.

The startup would be valued at $4 billion, up from the $1.5 billion valuation it had last year after a star-studded deal including Jeff Bezos, Lightspeed Venture Partners and Coatue Management. The new round for Skild, founded in 2023, is a reflection of venture capital optimism about the intersection of artificial intelligence and robotics.

A representative for SoftBank declined to comment. A representative for Skild did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The ...