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Robotics software startup Skild AI Incorporated has drawn investments from MNC Samsung Electronics<\/a> and chips major Nvidia Corporation, totalling $35 million, as both companies seek a footing in the emerging consumer robotics industry, Bloomberg reported, citing sources.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Both Samsung and Nvidia<\/a> will pick up minority stakes in Skild AI with $10 million and $25 million investments, respectively, as part of the company\u2019s Series B funding round. Led by $100 million investment from SoftBank Group, this round will value Skild AI at around $4.5 billion, it added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Representatives for Samsung and Nvidia declined to comment, while the spokesperson for Skild did not respond, the report said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n For Samsung, the report said that it sees investment<\/a> in Skild \u201cas a way to keep visibility into the startup and its talent without needing to make a significant commitment\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n It has deeper ambitions to expand into humanoid robots and household appliances \u2014 it already sells robot vacuums. It is also trying to keep pace with rivals LG, Mirae and Hanwha, who have each invested $5-10 million into Skild.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n For Nvidia, the chipmaker is pushing for \u201cphysical AI\u201d \u2014 the concept where robots<\/a> and autonomous vehicles are powered by artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Some months back, Samsung took a minority stake in Physical Intelligence, which also develops underlying robotics algorithms, and is the largest shareholder of Rainbow Robotics, which makes humanoids<\/a>; while Nvidia has invested in companies such as Figure AI and Serve Robotics.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Alphabet Inc. (Google), Amazon.com, Apple Inc., Meta Platforms and Tesla (Optimus robots) are heavily invested in the industry and it is \u201cquickly becoming a major area of future growth\u201d for tech companies, the report said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nWhy the draw? What’s the rationale behind this move?<\/h2>\n