TLDR
- Qualcomm’s chief executive Cristiano Amon announced robotics will emerge as a substantial business opportunity for the company by 2028.
- The chipmaker introduced its Dragonwing processor in January 2026, specifically engineered for robotic applications.
- Amon anticipates robotics achieving significant commercial scale by 2027, fueled by physical AI breakthroughs.
- Market forecasts estimate general-purpose robotics reaching $370 billion by 2040, with humanoid robots potentially hitting $9 trillion by 2050.
- Shares of QCOM declined 2.20% during the trading session.
Qualcomm’s chief executive Cristiano Amon delivered a bold forecast during Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week: the robotics sector represents the company’s next frontier.
During a March 3, 2026 interview with CNBC, Amon projected that robotics would evolve into a substantial revenue generator for Qualcomm over the coming 24 months. This wasn’t speculative commentary — it was a concrete business forecast.
The semiconductor giant has already positioned itself strategically. Earlier this year in January 2026, Qualcomm unveiled the Dragonwing processor, a specialized chipset engineered for deployment across diverse robotics applications. The strategy echoes Snapdragon’s success in the smartphone ecosystem — creating a versatile processor adaptable to numerous device types.
“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 an extensive spectrum — spanning from automated industrial machinery in logistics facilities to advanced humanoid machines under development by Tesla and numerous Chinese technology firms. Current data from Q1 2026 indicates over 50 humanoid robot prototypes have been unveiled worldwide.
Qualcomm’s strategic vision positions Dragonwing as the robotics equivalent of Snapdragon in mobile technology: establishing itself as the industry-standard processor across multiple manufacturers. This approach would enable interoperability between platforms and accelerate widespread market adoption.
The financial projections supporting this initiative are substantial. McKinsey’s research indicates general-purpose robotics could represent a $370 billion industry by 2040. Meanwhile, RBC Capital Markets estimates the total addressable market for humanoid robots at $9 trillion by 2050.
The worldwide robotics sector currently stands at approximately $67 billion, expanding at roughly 12% annually based on February 2026 Statista data. This expansion is partially attributed to rising demand for AI-powered processing solutions.
What’s Driving the Push
The heightened focus on robotics correlates directly with artificial intelligence advancement. Amon highlighted what industry experts term “physical AI” — sophisticated models enabling robots to perceive their surroundings and respond autonomously in real-world conditions.
“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.
This perspective aligns with statements from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who previously identified robotics as a critical growth vertical for his organization. Qualcomm is positioning Dragonwing as a competitive alternative in this arena, emphasizing edge computing capabilities for instantaneous robotic decision-making.
What the Analysts Are Saying
Financial experts forecast Qualcomm’s robotics-related revenue could multiply by five times by 2028 if execution meets expectations, potentially securing 15–20% of the physical AI processor market according to PwC analysis.
The challenges are significant. Tesla’s Optimus initiative, Unitree, and additional Chinese competitors are rapidly expanding production. Supply chain bottlenecks and substantial AI training expenses — averaging approximately $100 million per model according to IDC data — present ongoing obstacles.
QCOM shares declined 2.20% to $138.40 in after-hours trading following Amon’s statements. The downturn was partially linked to wider market uncertainty stemming from U.S.-Iran geopolitical developments.
Robotics dominated discussions at Mobile World Congress throughout the week, with Chinese smartphone manufacturer Honor previewing its inaugural humanoid robot prototype on Sunday.
