SoftBank is preparing to establish and publicly list a new artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics company named Roze in the United States, alongside plans to expand its data center operations. This move demonstrates founder Masayoshi Son‘s commitment to advancing his substantial AI strategy. Sources indicate that Roze could potentially go public as early as 2026, with SoftBank’s management estimating a valuation of up to $100 billion. However, the company has yet to finalize the extent of its stock sales at that time, as it has historically retained a majority stake when taking businesses public. SoftBank has not responded to inquiries regarding these rumors.
This initiative is seen as a significant step for SoftBank in the AI sector. In addition to embracing AI, Roze will integrate robotics and data center operations. Sources have noted that ABB Robotics, which SoftBank agreed to acquire last year, is expected to play a crucial role in future developments. Concurrently, SoftBank is accelerating the construction of its own data centers, including a major project in Ohio.
Recently, Son has been steering the entire group, including the Vision Fund, towards AI, significantly investing in OpenAI. Reports suggest that SoftBank is deploying an additional $30 billion investment into OpenAI, which has raised concerns among some executives due to the pressure on the group’s balance sheet and the near limit of its borrowing capacity. To maintain its spending pace, SoftBank may need to sell or liquidate some assets in the future.
The market environment is also filled with uncertainties. Insiders indicate that some within SoftBank are skeptical about Roze’s valuation and timeline for going public. This skepticism is partly due to geopolitical and economic changes following former President Donald Trump’s military actions against Iran, as well as the potential for the U.S. stock market to absorb several large tech IPOs, including those of SpaceX, Anthropic, and OpenAI.
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Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/softbank-launches-ai-robotics-venture-roze-aiming-for-100-billion-valuation-and-u-s-ipo/
