Technology

SoftBank plans robotics and AI firm in the US to build data centers — aims for $100 billion valuation and an IPO this year

Source

Tom's Hardware

Published

May 1, 2026

TL;DR

AI Generated

SoftBank's founder, Masayoshi Son, is launching Roze, a robotics and AI firm in the U.S. focused on building data centers, with plans for a $100 billion valuation and an IPO in 2026. The company has a history of significant AI investments, including partnerships with OpenAI and Oracle. Despite past losses, such as investments in WeWork, SoftBank has seen success with ventures like ARM Holdings and Alibaba. The company's heavy investment in AI has faced challenges, including a $50 billion loss in late 2025, but it continues to pursue opportunities in the tech sector.

Read Full Article

Musk v. Altman week 1: Elon Musk says he was duped, warns AI could kill us all, and admits that xAI distills OpenAI’s models

Elon Musk testified in the trial against OpenAI, claiming he was deceived into funding the company and warning about the dangers of AI. He admitted that his own AI company, xAI, uses OpenAI's models. The trial could impact OpenAI's potential IPO and xAI's public debut. Musk argued he sued to restore OpenAI as a nonprofit, while OpenAI's lawyer suggested Musk's motives were to undermine competition. Musk also revealed his changing views on OpenAI and his concerns about its shift towards for-profit activities.

MIT Technology Review•

16 hours ago

Bronco AI Webinar: Full-Chip SoC Debug in 15 Minutes

Bronco AI's webinar highlights how their Debug tool can efficiently tackle full-chip SoC bugs in under 15 minutes, a task that typically takes engineering teams days to resolve. The platform integrates into overnight regressions, providing root-cause analyses and actionable insights by morning. Bronco's capabilities span the entire Design Verification lifecycle, from spec analysis to debugging, leveraging AI and a proprietary EDA suite. The tool operates on-premises, ensuring data security, and offers flexibility for teams to deploy their own AI models or agents. Interested parties can witness a live demo of Bronco's Debug Agent in action during an upcoming webinar.

SemiWiki•

21 hours ago

Save a huge $400 on this Acer Predator OLED gaming laptop with an RTX 5070 Ti and 32GB DDR5, now under $1,800 — big saving on Helios Neo 16S AI rig that ships with a 24-core Intel CPU, 1TB SSD, and a 240Hz refresh rate

Best Buy is offering a $400 discount on the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI gaming laptop, now priced at $1,799.99. This laptop features an RTX 5070 Ti GPU, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and a 16-inch OLED display with a 240Hz refresh rate. Powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, it is designed for high-performance gaming and multitasking. The laptop's slim design includes various ports, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4, and a 1TB SSD. This deal provides a cost-effective option for gamers seeking top-notch specs in a portable package.

Tom's Hardware•

1 day ago

Mark Zuckerberg says Meta is cutting 8,000 jobs to pay for AI infrastructure — insatiable compute demand means the company can't rule out further headcount reductions

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced at a town hall that the company plans to cut 8,000 jobs due to the increasing costs of AI infrastructure. These layoffs will affect about 10% of Meta's workforce and are linked to the company's expanding AI budget. Zuckerberg mentioned that the focus on AI hardware is diverting funds from employee-related expenses, hinting at possible future reductions. Despite the layoffs, Meta reported strong Q1 earnings, raising questions about the necessity of the job cuts. The move highlights a broader debate about the role of AI in driving layoffs in the tech industry.