Skild AI, Nvidia bring Robotic Intelligence to Blackwell lines
Skild AI's AI model will drive robots operating Foxconn's assembly lines in Houston, where Nvidia's Blackwell GPU server racks are manufactured, in what the companies termed an initial commercial rollout of generalized physical AI.
The startup, supported by Nvidia and SoftBank, announced on Monday that it will collaborate with ABB Robotics and Universal Robots to integrate its software into industrial robots, with the goal of providing a general-purpose "brain".
Skild AI stated that its generalized AI model overcomes a significant restriction of existing robotics systems, which are usually designed for one repetitive task and need substantial engineering to adjust to new processes.
"Partnering with robotic OEMs that currently have hundreds of thousands of robots in operation provides us with a route to tremendous scalability and sets up the data flywheel," states Skild AI CEO Deepak Pathak.
Collaborations with ABB and Teradyne's Universal Robots aim to enhance the data accessible for training the system through the integration of software into robots.
The declarations arise during the United States' intensified initiatives to restore local manufacturing capabilities.
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In 2025, approximately $1.2 trillion in new production investments in the U.S. were declared, driven by manufacturers in the electronics, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductor sectors. Industry leaders, however, claim that extensive reshoring of advanced manufacturing will significantly rely on automation.
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Last year, Nvidia, whose chips drive a significant portion of the present artificial intelligence surge, announced its intentions to manufacture AI supercomputers exclusively in the United States.
"We are creating infrastructure valued at half a trillion dollars in the next three to four years in the United States." "To achieve that, these factories must enhance their autonomy," says Deepu Talla, Nvidia's vice president of Robotics and Edge AI.
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In October, SoftBank announced it would purchase ABB's robotics division for $5.38 billion, a transaction anticipated to finalize in mid-to-late 2026. Earlier this year, Skild AI secured $1.4 billion in a funding round guided by Nvidia and SoftBank, valuing the company at more than $14 billion.