Shifting to physical AI, Cognex to acquire Intel spinoff RealSense in $500 million deal
With the acquisition, the company is expected to generate between $80m.and $90 m. in revenue in 2026, representing more than 50% growth over the previous year
Cognex Corporation, a leading US machine vision company, has agreed to acquire Israeli AI vision technology specialist RealSense in a $500 million deal. The transaction, which will be funded entirely from Cognex's existing cash reserves, is set to close in Q4 2026 with regulatory approval pending. A $50 million stock option and incentive plan will also be granted as part of the acquisition.
RealSense, originally founded by Intel in 2014 as an internal innovation division, was spun out as an independent company in 2025 when Intel planned major cuts. The company employs 180 people in Israel, with 135 based in Haifa and the remainder in Cupertino, California. Approximately 80 Israeli employees are expected to receive at least a salary of NIS 1 million.
RealSense's mission, dubbed the "Visual Cortex of Physical AI," focuses on enabling robots and autonomous systems to perceive the physical world accurately. The company's depth-sensing cameras and perception software are integral to creating robots capable of navigating crowded warehouses, avoiding obstacles, and interacting safely with humans.
The acquisition, expected to generate $80 million to $90 million in revenue in 2026, marks Cognex's first strategic expansion into Israel and the emerging Physical AI market. Physical AI refers to AI systems that operate in the real world, requiring sophisticated sensors, cameras, spatial understanding, and real-time processing to perceive depth, motion, obstacles, and human behavior.
Cognex President and CEO Matt Moschner emphasized that this acquisition represents a natural evolution for the company, expanding its capabilities into robotic perception and the growing Physical AI market. The deal is expected to reinforce Cognex's position as a comprehensive visual intelligence platform, spanning industrial ID, measurement, and robotic navigation, while integrating RealSense's cutting-edge 3D perception technology and strong developer community.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
