SoftBank Plans Roze AI Launch, $100B U.S. IPO by 2026

SoftBank Group Corp. is preparing to launch Roze AI, a new venture focused on artificial intelligence and robotics to automate data center construction, with plans for a U.S. stock market listing as early as the second half of 2026 targeting a $100 billion valuation.

The initiative, led by SoftBank Chief Executive Masayoshi Son, aims to deploy autonomous robots for tasks such as heavy lifting, welding and assembly, addressing labor shortages and delays in building facilities critical to the AI boom. People familiar with the matter said the company would consolidate assets including the robotics division of ABB Ltd., acquired last year for $5.4 billion, along with energy holdings from SB Energy, infrastructure investments and data center properties. These resources, valued by some analysts at around $20 billion, would form the foundation for Roze AI's operations, primarily targeting the U.S. market.

KPMG has been hired to prepare financial documentation for the initial public offering, and Bilal Safeer, an executive at SoftBank subsidiary Arm Holdings Plc, is serving as interim chief financial officer. SoftBank has scheduled an investor presentation at one of its Texas data...