Observed Signal · Aug 25, 2026 · Partnership · Source: CNBC Technology · Impact: 1/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
BlackBerry: Robotics Is a Fastest-Growing QNX Business
BlackBerry CEO John Giamatteo told CNBC that robotics is one of the fastest-growing segments within the company’s QNX software portfolio and that QNX is positioned to support growth in "physical AI." BlackBerry said QNX is embedded in 275 million vehicles and has a roughly $950 million royalty backlog, with a portion of that backlog coming from robotics. The CEO highlighted robotics use cases in industrial warehouses, robotic forklifts and medical devices rather than humanoid consumer robots. The company also announced an expanded partnership with Nvidia in April to deploy BlackBerry software alongside Nvidia systems for robotics, medical technologies and industrial applications.
Company-level update about BlackBerry's growth in robotics and an expanded Nvidia partnership; relevant to AI and robotics ecosystems but has limited direct impact on the AdTech/MarTech industry.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- BlackBerry CEO John Giamatteo said robotics is one of the fastest-growing businesses within the QNX software portfolio.
- BlackBerry said QNX is embedded in 275 million vehicles.
- BlackBerry reported a roughly $950 million royalty backlog for QNX, with a portion attributable to robotics.
- In April, BlackBerry announced an expanded partnership with Nvidia to deploy its software alongside Nvidia systems in robotics, medical technologies and industrial applications.
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BlackBerry Shifts From Phones to Cars and Robotics
BlackBerry, once a leading smartphone maker, has reinvented itself as a provider of security software and automotive embedded systems. CEO John Giamatteo told CNBC that BlackBerry now focuses on secure communications (including encrypted products sold to governments) and QNX, its embedded operating system for cars, which the company says is embedded in 275 million vehicles. BlackBerry is positioning QNX and its safety-first approach as a play for "physical AI" applications such as autonomous vehicles and industrial or medical robotics. The company reports a QNX backlog of $950 million, with a portion attributed to robotics, and its share price has doubled this year amid investor support for the strategy.
Qualcomm Eyes Robotics Boom in Next Two Years
Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon said robotics will become a “larger opportunity” for the chipmaker within the next two years, as the company expands beyond smartphones. In January, Qualcomm introduced a robotics processor under the Dragonwing brand aimed at supporting multiple robotics platforms. Amon attributed increased momentum in robotics to advances in AI models that enable robots to better perceive and act in the physical world. The article cites market estimates: McKinsey projects general-purpose robots could reach $370 billion by 2040, and RBC Capital Markets forecasts a $9 trillion total addressable market for humanoid robots by 2050. The piece also notes industry interest from other chipmakers, with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang identifying robotics as a potential growth area, and mentions robotics displays and a teased humanoid from Honor at Mobile World Congress.
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