Key Takeaways
- Qualcomm’s CEO Cristiano Amon announced robotics will transform into a significant revenue driver for the chip giant within a two-year window.
- The company unveiled its Dragonwing chip in January 2026, purpose-built to power diverse robotics applications.
- Amon projects the robotics sector will achieve commercial scale by 2027, fueled by physical AI breakthroughs.
- Market forecasts suggest general-purpose robotics could reach $370 billion by 2040, with humanoid robots potentially commanding a $9 trillion market by 2050.
- Shares of QCOM declined 2.20% during the trading session when these comments were made.
Qualcomm’s chief executive Cristiano Amon delivered a bold message from Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this Monday: the robotics revolution is imminent.
During a CNBC interview on March 3, 2026, Amon declared that robotics would emerge as a “larger opportunity” for his company before 2028 closes. This isn’t speculative positioning — it’s a concrete forecast with measurable expectations.
Qualcomm has already taken decisive action. Early this year, the semiconductor giant introduced Dragonwing, a processor engineered specifically for robotics applications across diverse platforms. The strategy echoes Qualcomm’s successful Snapdragon playbook — create one adaptable silicon solution that powers 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 ecosystem spans a broad spectrum — from automated manufacturing equipment in logistics centers to humanoid machines under development by Tesla and an expanding roster of Chinese innovators. By the first quarter of 2026, the industry had witnessed over 50 humanoid robot prototypes unveiled worldwide.
Qualcomm’s strategic vision centers on positioning Dragonwing as the robotics industry’s equivalent to what Snapdragon achieved in mobile technology: establishing an industry-standard processor that enables interoperability and accelerates market penetration across multiple manufacturers.
The financial projections supporting this initiative are substantial. McKinsey’s analysis suggests general-purpose robotics could constitute a $370 billion industry by 2040. Meanwhile, RBC Capital Markets estimates the total addressable market for humanoid robots alone at $9 trillion by mid-century.
Presently, the worldwide robotics sector is valued at approximately $67 billion, expanding at an annual rate near 12%, based on Statista’s February 2026 data. A significant portion of this expansion stems from increasing demand for AI-capable processing solutions.
Forces Behind the Robotics Surge
The heightened focus on robotics correlates directly with artificial intelligence advancement. Amon referenced what industry experts term “physical AI” — sophisticated models enabling robots to interpret 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 among his firm’s priority growth sectors. Qualcomm is establishing Dragonwing as a competitive alternative in this arena, emphasizing edge computing capabilities for instantaneous robotic decision-making.
Analyst Perspectives
Industry analysts forecast Qualcomm’s robotics-related revenue could multiply fivefold by 2028 if execution matches the outlined schedule, potentially securing 15–20% of the physical AI market share, per PwC estimates.
However, challenges exist. Tesla’s Optimus initiative, Unitree, and various Chinese competitors are rapidly expanding production capacity. Additional obstacles include supply chain bottlenecks and substantial AI training expenses — currently averaging $100 million per model according to IDC research.
QCOM shares traded down 2.20% to $138.40 in after-hours trading following Amon’s public statements. Market analysts partially attributed the decline to broader geopolitical concerns involving U.S.-Iran relations affecting investor sentiment.
Robotics dominated discussions at Mobile World Congress throughout the week, with Chinese smartphone manufacturer Honor previewing its inaugural humanoid robot prototype Sunday.
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