Pending acquisition: SoftBank Group Corp. has agreed to acquire the Robotics and AI Institute (RAI) from Hyundai Motor Group, with the deal under CFIUS review and terms undisclosed.
- Research scope: RAI, founded in 2022 in Cambridge, Mass., works on robot control, perception, manipulation, navigation, and AI, backed initially by more than $400 million from Hyundai — funding that has now ended.
- Portfolio context: The deal follows SoftBank's planned $5.3 billion acquisition of ABB's robotics business, potentially combining industrial automation scale with AI research capability.
SoftBank Group Corp. has agreed to acquire the Robotics and AI Institute (RAI) from Hyundai Motor Group, in a deal that would return the Japanese conglomerate to a research operation it has been connected to before. The transaction is now under review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which screens foreign investments in U.S. businesses for their impact on national security. Financial terms were not disclosed.
A familiar founder, a familiar owner
RAI, based in Cambridge, Mass., was founded in 2022 as part of Hyundai's acquisition of Boston Dynamics Inc. Hyundai invested more than $400 million in the institute, but that initial funding has ended.
The institute's founder is Marc Raibert, who founded Boston Dynamics in 1992 and led the Waltham, Mass., company through the development of robots including BigDog, Atlas, and Spot.
RAI's research spans robot control, perception, manipulation, navigation, and AI — the kind of fundamental work Raibert has long championed.
Neither side is talking
"We don't have anything to share on this topic right now. We'd still love to stay in touch and keep you in the loop when we have news to share," the RAI Institute said.
The bigger SoftBank picture
The RAI deal does not stand alone. SoftBank is moving toward its planned acquisition of ABB's robotics business for $5.3 billion. ABB brings decades of industrial automation experience and an installed base; RAI would add depth in AI research. That pairing — industrial hardware at scale plus advanced robot intelligence — suggests SoftBank is assembling a robotics portfolio rather than making a one-off bet.
Meanwhile, Hyundai announced in July 2026 that it was pursuing the acquisition of SoftBank's remaining 9.65% stake in Boston Dynamics, which would consolidate its position in the company even as it divests RAI.
What happens next hinges on CFIUS. The timeline of the review is unknown, and Raibert's role should the deal close is also unclear. What is clear is that if the transaction is approved, SoftBank will once again own a piece of Raibert's robotics legacy — this time on the research side rather than the product side.
Is this your company?
This article features your business. Claim it to add your logo, contact details, and a link to your website — or upgrade to reach more buyers.
Did you know 80% of Press Releases trigger AI content warnings? Reach out and the M4S team can assist.