SoftBank moves to buy RAI Institute, deal faces U.S. security review
SoftBank Group has reached an agreement to purchase the Robotics and AI Institute from Hyundai Motor Group, with financial terms undisclosed. The transaction is now under review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. The institute, founded in 2022 with Hyundai backing, focuses on AI-driven robot control and manipulation, and its research has supported Boston Dynamics' Atlas acrobatics.
The proposed acquisition would move the Cambridge-based RAI Institute from Hyundai to SoftBank, a Japanese firm. The deal's fate hinges on a CFIUS national security review. RAI's initial $400 million funding from Hyundai has ended, and its research focuses on AI-driven control and manipulation, including the framework behind Boston Dynamics' Atlas acrobatics.
SoftBank is also pursuing a $5.3 billion purchase of ABB's robotics unit, potentially pairing industrial automation with RAI's AI expertise. This follows a complex ownership history: Raibert founded Boston Dynamics, which passed through Google, SoftBank, and Hyundai. Hyundai is now seeking to buy back SoftBank's remaining Boston Dynamics stake, while Raibert's future role remains unclear.
This acquisition could reshape the global robotics landscape, concentrating advanced AI research under a Japanese conglomerate while a U.S. security review weighs foreign control. If approved, it may accelerate commercialization of RAI's breakthroughs, potentially affecting industrial automation and service robots. Workers in manufacturing and logistics could see faster adoption of AI-driven machines, while researchers may face shifting priorities under new ownership. The outcome may also influence how other nations scrutinize cross-border tech deals, impacting innovation and competition.