Japanese investment giant SoftBank Group is preparing to launch a new venture aimed at reshaping how data centres are built — by using automation and robotics at scale. According to reports, the company is working on a business called Roze AI, designed to make the construction of data centres more efficient. The approach centres on deploying autonomous robots to handle parts of the building process, potentially reducing costs and timelines for large server facilities that underpin cloud and AI infrastructure.
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The move reflects a broader push across the technology industry to strengthen the physical backbone needed for the next wave of automation and artificial intelligence. As demand for computing power surges, companies are increasingly looking beyond software to optimise how infrastructure itself is created.
SoftBank’s ambitions for Roze AI appear significant. Even before its formal launch, discussions are underway about taking the company public, with some executives targeting an IPO as early as the second half of 2026. The expected valuation could reach as high as $100 billion, though that figure has reportedly raised concerns internally, particularly around the pace and scale of the plan.
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The idea of applying AI to industrial operations is gaining traction elsewhere as well. Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, has co-founded an initiative known as Project Prometheus, which aims to acquire companies across traditional industries and modernise them using artificial intelligence.
SoftBank, however, has a mixed track record when it comes to bold bets. The company has previously backed unconventional startups, including Zume, an AI-powered pizza delivery venture that ultimately shut down in 2023. That history adds a note of caution to its latest plans. While the vision for Roze AI aligns with the growing demand for smarter, faster infrastructure, questions remain over whether the company can deliver on its ambitious timeline — and justify the valuation it is already targeting.
