SoftBank Group is making a massive push into the future of artificial intelligence infrastructure with the formation of a new company called Roze AI. The Japanese conglomerate plans to spin out this standalone AI and robotics entity, targeting a valuation of approximately $100 billion and a U.S. initial public offering (IPO) as early as the second half of 2026.
CEO Masayoshi Son is driving this initiative, which he describes as the "next frontier" for SoftBank. The core mission of Roze AI is to revolutionize the construction and operation of data centers by leveraging autonomous robotics. The company aims to build highly automated, robot-run data centers to meet the surging demand for AI computing power.
To form Roze, SoftBank plans to bundle several of its existing assets under the new entity. This includes the recently acquired ABB Robotics, a global leader in industrial robotics and machine automation, which SoftBank agreed to purchase for $5.4 billion last year. Other assets slated for inclusion are the company's energy, land, and infrastructure holdings. SoftBank's energy unit, SB Energy, may be tapped to power Roze's projects but will remain a separate business.
The company has already taken concrete steps towards the IPO. It has hired KPMG to prepare the necessary financial documents. Additionally, Bilal Safeer, an executive from SoftBank-owned chip designer Arm, is currently serving as Roze's interim CFO. SoftBank is planning an analyst day in Texas in July 2026 to build investor interest ahead of the public offering.
The news was met with strong enthusiasm from the market. SoftBank shares (SFTBY) surged 7% in trading following the reports, reflecting investor confidence in SoftBank's deepening exposure to AI infrastructure. The rally highlights a growing market trend where companies involved in the physical systems that power AI, particularly data centers, are being rewarded.
This move is part of Son's accelerated AI spending strategy. Earlier this year, SoftBank committed an additional $30 billion to OpenAI as part of a massive funding round, making it one of the AI firm's largest investors. While investors have raised concerns about how SoftBank will fund these commitments, a successful Roze IPO could help offset those pledges. To raise additional cash, SoftBank has already sold its entire Nvidia position and is reportedly discussing selling part of its stake in Intel.
