TLDR
- Qualcomm’s CEO Cristiano Amon declared at Mobile World Congress that robotics will emerge as a significant revenue stream within a two-year window.
- The Dragonwing processor, unveiled in January 2026, targets the robotics sector with cross-platform capabilities.
- Physical AI advancements are expected to drive robotics to meaningful commercial scale by 2027, according to Amon.
- Market forecasts suggest general-purpose robotics could reach $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 statement at this week’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona: the robotics era has arrived for his company.
During a March 3, 2026 interview with CNBC, Amon outlined a concrete forecast that robotics would evolve into a substantial business segment for Qualcomm before 2028. This represents a strategic pivot backed by tangible product development.
The semiconductor giant has already taken action. January 2026 saw the introduction of Dragonwing, a specialized processor engineered for diverse robotics applications. The strategy echoes Qualcomm’s successful Snapdragon approach in smartphones — creating a versatile chip architecture that works across multiple hardware manufacturers.
“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 advanced humanoid machines being pursued by companies like Tesla and numerous Chinese developers. Industry data shows over 50 humanoid robot prototypes were announced worldwide as of early 2026.
Qualcomm’s strategic vision centers on establishing Dragonwing as the industry-standard processor for robotics, replicating Snapdragon’s dominance in mobile devices. This standardization could accelerate market adoption and enable seamless integration across different robotic systems.
The financial projections supporting this strategy are substantial. McKinsey’s analysis forecasts the general-purpose robotics sector reaching $370 billion by 2040. Meanwhile, RBC Capital Markets estimates the humanoid robot market alone could balloon to $9 trillion by mid-century.
Current robotics market valuation stands at approximately $67 billion, expanding at a 12% annual rate based on February 2026 Statista figures. AI-powered processor demand is fueling much of this expansion.
What’s Driving the Push
The robotics surge connects directly to artificial intelligence breakthroughs. Amon referenced “physical AI” — sophisticated systems enabling robots to interpret their surroundings and respond autonomously in real-time scenarios.
“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’s Jensen Huang has similarly identified robotics as a critical growth sector for his company. Qualcomm is positioning itself to compete directly in this arena, emphasizing edge computing capabilities for instantaneous robotic decision-making.
What the Analysts Are Saying
Industry analysts forecast Qualcomm’s robotics division could see five-times revenue growth by 2028 if execution aligns with management’s timeline. PwC estimates suggest the company could capture 15–20% of the physical AI processing market.
Significant challenges remain on the horizon. Tesla’s Optimus initiative, Unitree, and emerging Chinese competitors are rapidly scaling production. Infrastructure bottlenecks and substantial AI development costs — averaging $100 million per model according to IDC data — present ongoing obstacles.
QCOM shares traded down 2.20% to $138.40 in after-hours activity following Amon’s public comments. Market analysts attributed the decline partially to geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Iran affecting broader market sentiment.
Robotics dominated conversations at this year’s Mobile World Congress, with Chinese smartphone manufacturer Honor previewing its inaugural humanoid robot prototype over the weekend.
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