Robotics is one of BlackBerry‘s fastest-growing businesses within its key software division, the CEO told CNBC, as the company positions itself for a future in physical AI.
BlackBerry, once one of the biggest mobile phone makers in the world with its iconic handsets that featured keyboards, 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.
QNX has become a strong player in safety-critical automotive software and is embedded in 275 million vehicles, according to BlackBerry. CEO John Giamatteo said QNX is now being used in robotics.
“We think that could be even a faster-growing segment of the industry for things like robotics,” Giamatteo told CNBC’s “The Tech Download” podcast.
The focus won’t be on humanoid robots like those that have gained attention in China recently. Instead, the CEO mentioned robots in industrial settings like warehouses, robotic forklifts, and those used in the medical space.
“As excited as we are about the dynamics of the automotive industry and where that’s going, these other applications around robotics and medical instruments and industrial automation represent a tremendous growth opportunity. And one that I think BlackBerry and our QNX portfolio is really well positioned to address,” Giamatteo said.
Robotics is one of the company’s “fastest-growing businesses inside the QNX portfolio,” the CEO said.
The company has a backlog of orders for QNX worth $950 million and “a portion of that is robotics,” he added. The CEO did not disclose specific numbers around the robotics orders.
BlackBerry’s stock has doubled this year amid improving margins and profitability. The company has positioned itself for future growth areas like robotics and autonomous cars, which are often dubbed examples of physical AI.
BlackBerry stock price year-to-date.
Newer generations of robots can combine specialized hardware with artificial intelligence models and other software. This is where BlackBerry sees its QNX software having an edge, given its experience in the automotive space.
In April, BlackBerry announced an expanded partnership with Nvidia to deploy its software alongside Nvidia’s systems in robotics, medical technologies and industrial applications.
“Robotics is going to shift in a hardcore way … and we couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity in front of us,” Giamatteo said.
