TLDR
- Cristiano Amon, CEO of Qualcomm, announced to CNBC that robotics represents a significant growth opportunity expected to materialize within two years.
- The company introduced its Dragonwing processor in January 2026, engineered specifically for robotics applications.
- Amon anticipates robotics will achieve meaningful commercial scale by 2027, powered by developments in physical AI technology.
- Industry analysts forecast the general-purpose robotics sector will reach $370 billion by 2040, while humanoid robots could generate a $9 trillion market by 2050.
- Shares of QCOM traded down 2.20% during the reporting period.
During Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on Monday, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon delivered a definitive message: robotics represents the company’s next frontier.
In his March 3, 2026 interview with CNBC, Amon outlined how robotics will transform into a significant revenue opportunity for Qualcomm over the coming 24 months. The statement came with specific timing rather than abstract forecasting.
Qualcomm has already positioned itself in this arena. The Dragonwing processor, unveiled in January 2026, represents the company’s dedicated silicon solution for diverse robotics platforms. The strategy parallels Snapdragon’s success in the Android smartphone ecosystem — a single adaptable processor serving multiple device categories.
“I think robotics will start to get scale within the next two years,” Amon said. “I think it’s going to become like a larger opportunity within two years.”
The robotics landscape encompasses everything from warehouse automation systems to humanoid machines under development by Tesla and numerous Chinese technology firms. Current data from Q1 2026 shows over 50 humanoid robot prototypes announced worldwide.
Qualcomm’s strategy centers on making Dragonwing the robotics industry standard, replicating Snapdragon’s mobile dominance. This approach aims to enable cross-vendor compatibility while accelerating widespread industry adoption.
Market forecasts support this strategic direction. McKinsey research indicates general-purpose robotics could generate $370 billion in revenue by 2040. RBC Capital Markets estimates the total addressable market for humanoid robots at $9 trillion by 2050.
Current global robotics market valuation stands at approximately $67 billion, expanding at roughly 12% annually according to February 2026 Statista figures. Demand for AI-capable processors continues fueling this expansion.
What’s Driving the Push
The robotics surge connects directly to artificial intelligence breakthroughs. Amon highlighted what industry experts call “physical AI” — computational models enabling robots to perceive their surroundings and respond instantaneously.
“People have said just robotics alone could be a trillion-dollar opportunity in terms of market size… the reality is, we see now, because of physical AI, robots have become a lot more useful,” Amon said.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has similarly identified robotics among his company’s primary expansion areas. Qualcomm positions Dragonwing as a competitive solution in this arena, emphasizing edge computing capabilities for real-time robotic processing.
What the Analysts Are Saying
Financial analysts estimate Qualcomm’s robotics division could expand revenue fivefold by 2028 if execution aligns with projections, potentially capturing 15–20% of the physical AI market based on PwC analysis.
Significant challenges remain present. Tesla’s Optimus program, Unitree, and additional Chinese competitors are expanding production rapidly. Supply chain bottlenecks and substantial AI training costs — averaging approximately $100 million per model according to IDC — present ongoing obstacles.
QCOM shares traded at $138.40 during after-hours trading, reflecting a 2.20% decline on the day of Amon’s statements. Market analysts attributed the broader selloff partially to escalating U.S.-Iran geopolitical tensions.
Robotics dominated discussions at Mobile World Congress this week, with Chinese smartphone manufacturer Honor previewing its inaugural humanoid robot on Sunday.
