BlackBerry CEO cites AI robot opportunity amid 142% stock surge

BlackBerry CEO John Giamatteo identified artificial intelligence-powered robots as a primary growth driver for the company, which has reinvented itself from a mobile handset maker into a software provider for physical AI. Speaking to CNBC's Jim Cramer, Giamatteo stated that the company's QNX operating system is now embedded in more than 275 million vehicles worldwide, but the firm is increasingly expanding beyond the automotive sector to capitalize on emerging demand for physical AI.

Giamatteo noted that while BlackBerry's products are no longer handheld devices, they are pervasive in cars, robots, government systems, medical instrumentation, and supply chain applications. He described this ecosystem as the new BlackBerry and the force behind its current growth. Unlike generative AI, which creates text and images, physical AI enables machines to interact with the real world. BlackBerry aims to supply the underlying software that allows these machines to operate safely and reliably, leveraging its experience in the automotive industry.

The company’s QNX royalty backlog surpassed $1.2 billion, an increase of more than $250 million over two quarters. Giamatteo attributed this growth to three factors: automakers transitioning to more advanced computing systems, expanded software offerings, and rising demand for physical AI applications. Robotics has already emerged as one of the fastest-growing businesses within QNX, according to the CEO.

Investors have responded positively to this strategic shift. BlackBerry shares surged 142% in 2026, lifting the company's market capitalization to approximately $5.4 billion. This stands in contrast to its peak market value of nearly $85 billion in 2008, when it was still known as Research in Motion and its physical-keyboard devices dominated the market before the rise of touchscreen smartphones like Apple's iPhone.

Giamatteo also highlighted a partnership with Nvidia, which began in the automotive sector. He stated that Nvidia has standardized on QNX as the platform of choice for its Halos Safety Stack. Giamatteo said this collaboration has opened up significant opportunities, including automated mobile robots (AMRs), autonomous forklifts, and skateboards that transport pallets to docking stations.