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A 1X Neo humanoid robot. Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

SoftBank in Talks to Buy Majority Stake in Humanoid Maker 1X at $6 Billion Valuation

By Rocket Drew, Valida Pau and Amir Efrati · Aug 26, 2026 6:36pm PDT

SoftBank is in talks to buy a majority stake in 1X Technologies, an OpenAI-backed humanoid robot developer, in a deal that would value the startup at about $6 billion, according to people with knowledge of the deal. The investment would buttress SoftBank’s robotics ambition. The investment would also give 1X more runway to put its soft-bodied... SoftBank is in talks to buy a majority stake in 1X Technologies, an OpenAI-backed humanoid robot...

Photo courtesy of Foxglove.

Robots Are in Their GPT-2 Era

By Rocket Drew · Aug 20, 2026 7:00am PDT

It’s no secret that AI-powered robots aren’t so good yet. They struggle with a broad range of simple tasks, from untangling cables to chopping vegetables. Nonetheless, morale is high among roboticists who are flush with venture cash as they work toward a “ChatGPT moment” when robots become broadly useful and available. Until then... It’s no secret that AI-powered robots aren’t so good yet. They struggle with a broad range of...

Photo by Getty Images; Art by Mike Sullivan

OpenAI Developing ‘Garlic’ Model to Counter Google’s Recent Gains

By Stephanie Palazzolo · Dec 2, 2025 7:00am PST · 2 comments

OpenAI, which in recent weeks has appeared to fall behind Google in AI development, is fighting back with a new large language model codenamed Garlic.Last week, OpenAI’s chief research officer Mark Chen told some colleagues about the new model, which was performing well on the company’s evaluations, at least when compared to Gemini 3 and ... OpenAI, which in recent weeks has appeared to fall behind Google in AI development, is fighting...

Relace cofounders Preston Zhou and Eitan Borgnia. Photo courtesy of Relace.

Andreessen Backs a Startup Developing Tools That Coding Agents Use

By Stephanie Palazzolo · Oct 8, 2025 7:00am PDT

Relace cofounders Preston Zhou and Eitan Borgnia. Photo courtesy of Relace.

Andreessen Backs a Startup Developing Tools That Coding Agents Use

By Stephanie Palazzolo · Oct 8, 2025 7:00am PDT

Countless startups sell tools to software engineers, such as version control systems to track who’s making changes to a codebase, and sandboxes where code can be safely run and tested without affecting the main system.Now, a startup is building such tools for artificial intelligence agents that aim to do the work of human coders. Andreessen... Countless startups sell tools to software engineers, such as version control systems to track who...

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. Photo by Getty Images. Art by Clark Miller.

Artificial Intelligence

Behind Many Robots, a Human Operator Toils

By Alex Perry and Rocket Drew · Aug 18, 2025 1:14pm PDT · 6 comments

When Nvidia wanted to show off software for developing artificial intelligence at its flagship customer conference in March, it brought out a Star Wars–inspired robot that bobbed its head as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang talked to it. “Stand right here,” said Huang, pointing to his side, and the knee-high robot waddled to the spot, receiving... When Nvidia wanted to show off software for developing artificial intelligence at its flagship...

SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son with a humanoid robot in 2015. Photo via Getty

Why SoftBank’s Robots-in-the-Desert Project Could Be a Mirage

By Nick Wingfield · Jun 20, 2025 5:00pm PDT

Masayoshi Son is a man who keeps adding zeros to his grand ambitions. Apparently, the SoftBank Group founder isn’t content with his $500 billion Stargate plan to build artificial intelligence data centers and is now trying to rally partners, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., to build a $1 trillion industrial complex in Arizona... Masayoshi Son is a man who keeps adding zeros to his grand ambitions. Apparently, the SoftBank...

Image by Mike Sullivan via Midjourney

AI Cleaning Robot Firm Raises $800 Million to Sell Machines For a Low Monthly Cost

By Rocket Drew · Jun 16, 2025 7:00am PDT

Demand is rising for AI-powered robots that can clean offices or roll around moving items from one part of a building to another, allowing businesses to save on labor costs. But the upfront costs of these robots, which can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars apiece, can put them out of reach.Now, financiers are stepping in to front the cost of... Demand is rising for AI-powered robots that can clean offices or roll around moving items from...

Photo by Getty

DeepSeek’s Implications For AI; Why Stargate Should Be Taken Seriously

By Anissa Gardizy · Jan 27, 2025 7:00am PST · 2 comments

Photo by Getty

DeepSeek’s Implications For AI; Why Stargate Should Be Taken Seriously

By Anissa Gardizy · Jan 27, 2025 7:00am PST · 2 comments

Before we get to our main item, I’d recommend you read yesterday’s scoop about Meta Platforms and other American developers reacting to the threat posed by DeepSeek, the hottest new artificial intelligence model (and consumer mobile app!) that has been sweeping the industry.On to the news…Last week I was at one of the largest data center... Before we get to our main item, I’d recommend you read yesterday’s scoop about Meta Platforms and...

Cognition AI CEO, Scott Wu, and the company's software development assistant, Devin. Screenshots via YouTube.

Six-Month-Old AI Coding Startup Valued at $2 Billion by Founders Fund

By Kate Clark · Apr 24, 2024 8:52am PDT · 1 comment

The promise of a chatbot that can write and fix code has attracted repeat investments in a six-month-old startup—even after it appeared to flub its product launch. Founders Fund has led a $175 million investment in Cognition, a startup that recently launched an artificial intelligence–powered coding assistant called Devin, according... The promise of a chatbot that can write and fix code has attracted repeat investments in a...

Art by Clark Miller.

Where Have All The AI Returns Gone?

By Stephanie Palazzolo · Mar 12, 2024 7:30am PDT

For all the hype around generative AI, we have yet to see much evidence that this new technology is lifting the top lines of customers who are spending money on it. That’s left many buyers to wonder: When will we see those long-touted returns from AI?My colleagues and I tackled that question in this story today, which reported that customers of... For all the hype around generative AI, we have yet to see much evidence that this new technology...

From left to right: Ross Weiner, Brandon Hightower and Alan Bressers. Photo courtesy of AXOM Partners.

The AI Talent Wars Heat Up; The Bankers Banking on AI Deals

By Stephanie Palazzolo · Nov 13, 2023 7:00am PST

After reading my colleague Jon Victor’s piece Friday morning, I called up my 16-year-old brother to give him some career advice: Become an AI researcher.As Jon’s piece details, the market for AI talent is heating up, with recruiters from top companies like OpenAI and Google dangling lucrative compensation packages in front of AI researchers.... After reading my colleague Jon Victor’s piece Friday morning, I called up my 16-year-old brother...

SoftBank Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son. Photo by Bloomberg.

SoftBank’s $93 Billion Vision Problem

By Shai Oster · May 25, 2017 7:02am PDT · 2 comments

SoftBank Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son. Photo by Bloomberg.

SoftBank’s $93 Billion Vision Problem

By Shai Oster · May 25, 2017 7:02am PDT · 2 comments

Nearly two decades ago, SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son stunned his peers when he made a $20 million bet on then-unknown Alibaba. Today, his stake in the online marketplace is valued at $90 billion. Fueled by that outsize success, he is taking an even bigger gamble—with much higher risks—as he launches the world’s biggest-ever... Nearly two decades ago, SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son stunned his peers when he made a $20...