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The move comes as global interest in consumer-grade robotics gains momentum. From humanoids to home assistants, companies are now racing to bring smart machines out of labs and into living rooms. For Nvidia and Samsung, Skild AI is another key piece in that puzzle.

Samsung and Nvidia have taken new steps into the robotics world, placing their bets on a California-based startup that’s quietly building the software brains for future consumer robots. The two tech giants are backing Skild AI, a company focused on developing autonomous robotics software, as part of a growing shift toward “physical AI”, machines that don’t just think but move and interact.
Why Samsung is watching Skild, but cautiously

Samsung’s ₹87 crore investment in Skild is more about access than just money. According to sources cited in Bloomberg, Samsung views the investment as a way to stay in the loop without committing too much. It’s also seen as a way to match the robotics activity of rival South Korean giants like LG and Hanwha.

Though Samsung sells robot vacuums today, it has broader ambitions in the field. The company has already backed Rainbow Robotics, a firm known for humanoid development, and is planning to launch Ballie, a rolling AI assistant that can project videos, later this year in partnership with Google.

Still, not everyone inside Samsung is fully sold on Skild’s offerings. Some within the company believe Skild’s software is weaker in certain areas when compared to other robotics solutions. That said, staying close to Skild gives Samsung a way to track the space and build relationships with key talent.

Skild AI bags $135 million in new round led by SoftBank

The funding comes as part of Skild’s Series B round and adds to the growing list of AI and robotics startups being closely watched by global tech investors. Nvidia’s move aligns with its broader interest in “physical AI”, the idea that smart software should power real-world hardware like autonomous vehicles and humanoid robots. The chipmaker has also backed robotics players like Figure AI and Serve Robotics in recent months.

As per a Bloomberg report, the funding round for Skild AI has brought in $135 million, with Japan’s SoftBank leading the round with a $100 million cheque. Nvidia has pitched in with $25 million (around ₹217 crore), while Samsung has added $10 million (approximately ₹87 crore), according to people familiar with the deal. The round reportedly values Skild AI at about $4.5 billion.

A growing market for home robotics

The Skild deal reflects a bigger global trend. Tech majors like Apple, Google, Meta and Amazon are all spending heavily to get ahead in AI-driven consumer hardware. Tesla’s Optimus robot project has also been in the works for a while, targeting the same segment.

With robots slowly becoming more than science fiction, Skild’s fresh capital and its backers may help move the needle. For now, the company remains quiet, but the investments suggest its software might be what future robots run on.

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