Qualcomm CEO: We believe we’ll be successful in robotics for the same reason we succeeded in autos

Watch on YouTube ↗  |  January 05, 2026 at 16:26  |  3:16  |  CNBC
Speakers
Cristiano Amon — CEO, Qualcomm
Jon Fortt — Host, Fortt on Tech

Summary

At CES, CNBC's Jon Fortt speaks with Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon about Qualcomm's new IQ Ten robotics platform and the broader physical AI opportunity. Amon argues that robotics is an edge-AI platform where Qualcomm's full-stack chips, software, and developer tools give it the right to win, similar to its automotive success. He cites a $1 trillion robotics opportunity by 2040 across consumer, industrial, humanoid, healthcare, retail, warehousing, and manufacturing. The segment also notes upcoming CES appearances by NVIDIA's Jen-Hsun Huang and AMD's Lisa Su.

  • CES features a major AI and robotics focus.
  • Qualcomm announced the IQ Ten Robotics Platform, spanning small robots to humanoids.
  • CEO Cristiano Amon sees robotics as an edge-AI extension of Qualcomm's wheelhouse.
  • Amon cites a $1 trillion robotics opportunity by 2040.
  • Target verticals include healthcare, retail, warehousing, manufacturing, and humanoids.
  • Qualcomm points to full-stack chips, software, and developer tools as differentiators.
  • Amon compares the opportunity to Qualcomm's prior automotive success.
  • NVIDIA CEO Jen-Hsun Huang and AMD CEO Lisa Su are also scheduled to speak at CES.
Ideas
Cristiano Amon CEO, Qualcomm 0:52
Robotics is a $1 trillion opportunity.
Robotics is a clear edge-AI platform and a massive market opportunity. Analyst estimates point to a $1 trillion opportunity by 2040 across consumer, industrial, humanoid, healthcare, retail, warehousing, and manufacturing applications. Advances in processing technology and physical AI now make scaled deployment possible, supporting a bullish view on the robotics theme.
ROBO HIGH
Cristiano Amon CEO, Qualcomm 0:52
Qualcomm can win in robotics.
Qualcomm has the right to win in robotics because robotics is an edge-AI platform that fits its wheelhouse. Qualcomm offers a full-stack solution with compute and AI chips, management and learning software, and developer tools; it is expanding its robotics roadmap, adding new customer engagements, and expects to replicate its prior automotive success. With Qualcomm sitting at the edge, it sees an incredible opportunity in the $1 trillion robotics market by 2040.
QCOM HIGH
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This CNBC video, published January 05, 2026, features Cristiano Amon discussing ROBO, QCOM. 2 trade ideas extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.

Speakers: Cristiano Amon  · Tickers: ROBO, QCOM