SoftBank to Buy Security Company Allied Universal for $18 Billion
Synopsis
SoftBank may buy Allied Universal for $18 billion, as founder Masayoshi Son expands his focus on robots and automation.
What Happened
Japan’s SoftBank group is thinking about buying Allied Universal, a US company that provides security guards for businesses, big events, and other places. The deal could be around $18 billion. But the talks related to the deal are still at an early stage, so no final decision has been revealed yet.
Allied Universal also works with data centres, helping build them and manage their daily work. If SoftBank buys the company, it may use robots for some of its security jobs.
SoftBank founder, Masayoshi Son has been seen showing more interest in AI and robots that help in different industries. However, using human-like robots, as security guard is a story of the future.
Why It Matters
SoftBank is investing more money in robots and machines that can do work with less human help. If the deal goes ahead, the company could use robots to handle some security jobs.
The deal also shows that more companies are looking at robots for use in data centres and other workplaces.
SoftBank has already agreed to buy ABB’s robotics business for $5.4 billion. It has also invested in big technology companies such as Alibaba and Arm.
The Founder Angle
For founders, the main message is to keep a check on new technology and how it changes business. Jobs that may be done partly by machines in the future. But depending on doing and buying robots is not the key.
The 60-Second Takeaway
Overall, the 60 second takeaway of this news is that big companies are investing in AI and robots at a very fast and large scale. But it also comes with its own drawbacks. Such deals making headlines do pose a bright future.
The Inspirepreneur Question
What do you think about robots taking over more security jobs in future, or will human guards always be needed?
At Inspirepreneurs Magazine, covering entrepreneurship, business failures, and the human stories behind the world's most ambitious founders. She writes at the intersection of strategy and storytelling.
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