Yazılar

SoftBank to buy ABB’s robot unit for $5.4 billion in AI-robotics merger push

/in /tarafından

SoftBank Group has agreed to purchase the robotics division of ABB for $5.4 billion, marking a major step in CEO Masayoshi Son’s plan to unite artificial intelligence and robotics into what he calls “Physical AI.” The acquisition, announced Wednesday, gives the Japanese conglomerate control of one of the world’s leading industrial robotics makers as it deepens its bet on AI-driven automation.

The deal signals ABB’s decision to cancel its planned spin-off of the robotics unit, opting instead for a direct sale that delivers immediate liquidity. ABB CEO Morten Wierod said the sale provides stronger financial flexibility to invest in electrification, automation, and potential new acquisitions.

ABB’s robotics arm employs about 7,000 people and generated $2.3 billion in 2024 sales, roughly 7% of ABB’s total revenue. Despite its technological strength, the division struggled with volatile margins and limited overlap with ABB’s core business.

For SoftBank, the acquisition builds on a decade-long robotics journey that began with its humanoid Pepper robot and now extends into advanced factory automation. The company has recently invested in Berkshire Grey, AutoStore, and OpenAI, and earlier this year bought chip designer Ampere for $6.5 billion.

The transaction is expected to close by late 2026, subject to regulatory approvals. ABB shares rose 2% in Zurich after the announcement, while SoftBank’s stock slipped 2% in Tokyo trading.

OpenAI’s Valuation Soars to $500 Billion After Major Share Sale Involving SoftBank

/in /tarafından

OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has achieved a staggering $500 billion valuation after employees and former staff sold $6.6 billion worth of shares to major global investors, according to a source cited by Reuters. This marks a sharp rise from its previous valuation of $300 billion, signaling the company’s explosive growth in both user base and revenue.

The deal involved sales to a powerful consortium of investors, including Thrive Capital, SoftBank, Dragoneer Investment Group, Abu Dhabi’s MGX, and T. Rowe Price. The company reportedly authorized the sale of more than $10 billion in stock on the secondary market, giving early employees and stakeholders the chance to cash out part of their holdings while maintaining OpenAI’s momentum in private financing rounds.

SoftBank, already a participant in OpenAI’s $40 billion primary funding round, has further strengthened its position with this deal. None of the involved firms immediately commented on the transaction.

Financially, OpenAI continues to outperform expectations. The company brought in around $4.3 billion in revenue during the first half of 2025, which is roughly 16% higher than its total revenue for the entirety of 2024, according to The Information.

The timing of this sale coincides with intensifying competition among global tech giants for AI talent and infrastructure dominance. Meta, for instance, is heavily investing in AI companies like Scale AI, and recently hired its 28-year-old CEO, Alexandr Wang, to spearhead its new superintelligence division—a move highlighting the escalating arms race in artificial intelligence innovation and expertise.

As OpenAI’s valuation hits half a trillion dollars, the company stands at the center of this rapidly transforming landscape—its technology, partnerships, and pace of growth redefining the frontier of modern computing.

Samsung and SK Hynix to Supply Chips for OpenAI’s $500 Billion Stargate Project

/in /tarafından

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, South Korea’s top semiconductor manufacturers, have signed letters of intent to supply memory chips for OpenAI’s massive Stargate project, marking a major step in Seoul’s growing role in global artificial intelligence infrastructure.

As part of the deal, OpenAI will collaborate with both companies to build two new AI data centers in South Korea, branded as “Korean-style Stargate,” aligning with President Lee Jae Myung’s goal of turning the country into an AI innovation hub in Asia. The decision leverages South Korea’s strong industrial base and its status as the world’s second-largest ChatGPT subscription market after the United States.

The agreements were announced on Wednesday following a high-profile meeting in Seoul between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, President Lee Jae Myung, and the chairmen of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.

The Stargate project, unveiled by U.S. President Donald Trump in January, aims to invest $500 billion into developing next-generation AI infrastructure with global partners such as SoftBank, Oracle, and now the South Korean chip giants. The initiative seeks to secure the computing capacity needed to sustain AI’s rapid growth and maintain U.S. leadership in the field.

South Korea’s presidential adviser Kim Yong-beom revealed that OpenAI plans to order 900,000 semiconductor wafers by 2029 and establish joint ventures with Samsung and SK Hynix to operate two 20-megawatt-capacity data centers domestically.

“The significant part of the Stargate project would be impossible without memory chips from the two companies,” said Kim.

He added that South Korea may also participate in financing the project.

Altman, in his remarks, emphasized the strategic importance of Korea:

“Korea has an industrial base like nowhere else in the world that is critical for the development of AI. We’re very excited to build Stargate Korea with Samsung and Hynix to support the sovereign AI needs of the country.”

Together, Samsung and SK Hynix control about 70% of the global DRAM market and nearly 80% of the HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) market. HBM technology, introduced in 2013, stacks chips vertically to save space, boost performance, and reduce power consumption, making it vital for AI data processing.

Analysts estimate that 900,000 wafers of advanced DRAM could be worth more than 100 trillion won ($70 billion), though prices may fluctuate depending on market conditions.

In addition to the memory supply deals:

  • Samsung SDS, an IT services affiliate, signed a partnership with OpenAI to develop and operate AI data centers under the Stargate framework.

  • Samsung Heavy Industries and Samsung C&T will collaborate on floating offshore data centers, designed to reduce cooling costs and carbon emissions.

Meanwhile, Google has also been in talks with several South Korean companies to explore potential AI collaborations. In June, SK Group announced a 7 trillion won investment, including $4 billion from Amazon Web Services, to build another major data center in the country.

Despite optimism about AI’s transformative potential, some investors remain cautious, citing the risk of a tech infrastructure bubble as companies rush to build large-scale data facilities.

The Stargate project, delayed earlier by prolonged negotiations and site selection, is now poised to gain new momentum through this South Korea partnership, reinforcing the nation’s position at the heart of the global AI supply chain.