Robotics has become the fastest-growing segment within BlackBerry’s QNX software portfolio, Chief Executive John Giamatteo said on CNBC’s The Tech Download podcast.
The company, which has pivoted from mobile phones to focus on QNX—a safety-critical operating system used in automotive and embedded systems—now sees robotics as a key growth driver. Giamatteo highlighted industrial warehouses, robotic forklifts, and medical equipment as primary target markets, rather than humanoid robots.
BlackBerry’s QNX software powers functions ranging from braking systems to semi-autonomous driving features in vehicles. The company reports a QNX order backlog of $950 million, with robotics contributing to a portion of these orders.
In April, BlackBerry expanded its partnership with Nvidia to integrate QNX software with Nvidia’s systems across robotics, medical technologies, and industrial automation. The collaboration aims to support applications in physical AI, including warehouse automation and medical devices.
QNX is currently embedded in approximately 275 million vehicles globally, reinforcing BlackBerry’s position in the automotive software market. Giamatteo emphasized that while the automotive sector remains a major opportunity, robotics and industrial automation present significant untapped potential for the company’s QNX portfolio.
BlackBerry’s stock has roughly doubled since 2026, reflecting investor confidence in its strategic shift toward high-growth areas such as robotics and AI-driven applications.
