SoftBank uses edge AI to make office robots more useful
So-called physical AI recently found its way back onto SoftBank's big list of nascent technologies upon which to splurge billions. Having bought robot maker Boston Dynamics from Google parent Alphabet in a 2017 deal worth a reported $100 million only to sel...
Key takeaways
- In August 2025 Ubtech unveiled the Walker S2, an industrial‑grade humanoid that can autonomously swap its battery, demonstrating self‑sufficient operation in a multi‑robot training program at a smart factory.
- A month later, Deep Robotics introduced the DR02, the first all‑weather humanoid with an IP66 dust‑ and water‑resistance rating, aimed at outdoor security, logistics and industrial inspection in harsh construction sites.
- In September, the startup Humanoid released its first bipedal model, the HMND 01 Alpha, which can begin walking within 48 hours of assembly after a rapid integration of its wheeled prototype platform.
- November’s “Top 10 robotics developments” highlighted Agile Robots SE’s launch of Agile ONE, a collaborative industrial humanoid, while California‑based 1X Technologies opened pre‑orders for Neo, a consumer‑ready humanoid priced at roughly $20 k and marketed for household assistance.
- SoftBank announced on 1 December 2025 that it is pairing edge‑AI with office robots to improve real‑time coordination between human workers and robotic assistants.
So-called physical AI recently found its way back onto SoftBank's big list of nascent technologies upon which to splurge billions.
Having bought robot maker Boston Dynamics from Google parent Alphabet in a 2017 deal worth a reported $100 million only to sell it to car maker Hyundai in 2020 – albeit for a tidy profit – Softbank has lately been building up its robot portfolio once again. AI Operator Ecosystem News
SoftBank uses edge AI to make office robots more useful
Japanese telco SoftBank reckons the combination of AI and multi-access edge computing (MEC) can usher in a future of office workers and robots working together in perfect harmony.
Nick Wood, Freelance writer
December 1, 2025
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