Key terms remain undisclosed, including the size of the proposed stake, whether existing investor OpenAI would sell any of its position, and whether 1X founder and CEO Bernt Børnich would retain operational control following a transaction.
The reported $6 billion valuation is below the $10 billion valuation 1X was reportedly targeting during fundraising discussions last year. However, the figures represent different transaction structures and are not directly comparable.
OpenAI itself reportedly explored acquiring 1X outright last year, but those discussions did not result in a deal.
1X is currently preparing to bring NEO, its consumer humanoid, into homes. The company has said initial deliveries are planned for 2026, with NEO offered for $20,000 outright or through a $499-per-month subscription. Preorders filled the company’s first year of planned production capacity within five days, although customer deliveries have yet to be publicly confirmed.
A deal would further expand SoftBank’s exposure to physical AI and robotics. The group has been building a broader position across the sector, including its involvement in Skild AI’s $1.4 billion Series C and its $5.4 billion agreement to acquire ABB’s robotics business.
