Key Highlights
- CEO Cristiano Amon expects robotics to scale into a larger opportunity within two years.
- Qualcomm launched a robotics processor under its Dragonwing brand to expand beyond smartphones.
- Advances in physical AI are accelerating the commercial viability of industrial and humanoid robots.
Robotics is poised to become a significantly larger business opportunity for Qualcomm within the next two years, according to CEO Cristiano Amon, as the semiconductor giant accelerates its diversification strategy beyond smartphones.
Speaking to CNBC at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Amon said he expects robotics to gain meaningful scale for the company in the near term. “I think robotics will start to get scale within the next two years,” he said, adding that it could evolve into a substantial growth segment during that timeframe.
Expanding Beyond Smartphones
Qualcomm has long been known for its Snapdragon processors, which power a wide range of Android smartphones globally. Now, the company is applying a similar chipset strategy to robotics.
In January, Qualcomm introduced a new robotics processor under its Dragonwing brand. The platform is designed to support multiple types of robots, from industrial robotic arms to next-generation humanoid machines. By offering a scalable chipset solution, Qualcomm aims to position itself as a foundational technology provider across the robotics ecosystem.
The move reflects the broader transformation underway in the semiconductor industry, where companies are increasingly targeting high-growth markets such as artificial intelligence, automotive systems, IoT, and robotics.
Physical AI Driving Momentum
The growing optimism around robotics is closely tied to rapid advances in artificial intelligence. AI models now enable robots to better interpret their surroundings, make decisions, and perform complex physical tasks which is a category often referred to as “physical AI.”
Amon noted that AI breakthroughs have made robots “a lot more useful,” increasing their commercial potential across industries.
Market forecasts highlight the scale of opportunity. McKinsey & Company projects that the general-purpose robotics market could reach $370 billion by 2040. Meanwhile, analysts at RBC Capital Markets estimate the total addressable market for humanoid robots could climb to $9 trillion by 2050.
Robotics is also emerging as a key competitive battleground among chipmakers. Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, has similarly identified robotics as a major long-term growth driver.
With robotics taking center stage at Mobile World Congress, including new humanoid concepts from companies like Honor, Qualcomm’s push into AI-powered robotics underscores how chipmakers are positioning themselves at the core of the next wave of intelligent machines.