BlackBerry CEO John Giamatteo told CNBC that robotics is one of the fastest-growing businesses in the company’s QNX software portfolio. QNX is embedded in 275 million vehicles and has a roughly $950 million royalty backlog, part of which comes from robotics.
Giamatteo noted that the software division is well-positioned to be part of the growth of physical AI.
BlackBerry, once one of the biggest mobile phone makers in the world, has pivoted over the years to focus on other areas. One of its biggest businesses is QNX, which it calls "safety-critical" software that runs in cars.
QNX provides operating systems and other embedded software to underpin features ranging from braking systems to some semi-autonomous driving functions.
Giamatteo stated that QNX is now being used in robotics. "We think that could be even a faster-growing segment of the industry for things like robotics," he said.
He emphasized that the focus won't be on humanoid robots but on robots used in industrial settings, such as robotic forklifts in warehouses.
BlackBerry's stock has doubled this year, and the company is positioning itself for future growth areas like robotics and autonomous cars.
