BlackBerry Rises 5% as CEO Pitches QNX for Robots and Physical AI; Mobileye and Aptiv Edge Higher

A chief executive pitching QNX as the operating system for robots as well as cars has BlackBerry Limited (NYSE:BB) shares moving sharply higher. BlackBerry stock is at $9.63, up 5% in afternoon trading. This move puts QNX’s robotics pitch at the center of the turnaround story.

Software stocks are rising far more modestly. The iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (CBOE:IGV) is up 0.8%, a fraction of the gain in BlackBerry shares. Across large-cap technology stock, the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:QQQ) is up 1.2%, so BlackBerry stock is beating both the software fund and the broad-tech market by a wide margin.

That outperformance comes on top of a powerful run, with BlackBerry shares up 154% year to date (YTD). Until now, the rally had leaned on QNX royalties and improving profitability, and the robotics pitch gives BlackBerry stock a second story to trade on. Momentum of that size can also magnify any decline if the robotics story stalls.

Mad Money Interview Puts QNX Robots in the Spotlight

In an interview on CNBC’s Mad Money after the prior session’s close, BlackBerry chief executive John Giamatteo said growth in connected cars, robotics and physical AI is driving the business. Giamatteo argued that QNX’s Alloy Kore platform, which combines the QNX operating system with middleware, significantly expands the market QNX can sell into. The claim matters because Alloy Kore moves BlackBerry further up the software stack in each device it wins.

NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA | NVDA Price Prediction) has standardized on QNX as the platform for its robotics safety technology, according to Giamatteo, opening a pipeline of opportunities for BlackBerry outside cars. Describing that reach, he stated, “The products we sell today can’t be held in the palm of your hand; they are pervasive around you.” Separately, NVIDIA describes physical AI coming online as an industry boost in its own company disclosures, putting BlackBerry’s pitch alongside a far larger player on the same theme (we covered seven suppliers powering that AI expansion, from power to networking, in a free report here).

Royalty Model Separates BlackBerry From Auto Suppliers

Last week, BlackBerry reported a record QNX royalty backlog, the development behind the earlier gains in BlackBerry shares. That backlog builds on Q2 FY2027 results, when QNX revenue reached a record $80.3 million, up 27% year over year. Alongside that record, the first Alloy Kore design win came from Coretura (the Volvo Group and Daimler Truck joint venture), adding more than $100 million to the QNX royalty backlog.

Meanwhile, Mobileye Global (NASDAQ:MBLY) stock is at $6.80, up 2%, a smaller advance that trails BlackBerry stock by a clear margin. Mobileye sells driver-assistance chips and software to automakers. On a YTD basis, Mobileye shares were down 35%, a sharp contrast with the triple-digit climb in BlackBerry shares.

Aptiv (NYSE:APTV) stock is at $43.93, up 0.7%, the smallest gain of the three and a weak response next to BlackBerry stock. The company supplies vehicle electronics and software to automakers, the same customer base QNX serves. Measured from the start of the year, Aptiv shares were down 42%, a deeper slide than Mobileye shares.

BlackBerry’s Push From Cars Into Robots Needs Proof

A wider addressable market supports the optimistic outlook for BlackBerry, as Alloy Kore and NVIDIA’s robotics adoption expand where QNX can sell. Robotics demand remains early, however, and a pipeline described in a television interview has yet to become booked revenue. Customers in robotics also tend to ship in lower volumes than automakers, which can slow how quickly QNX royalties scale.

BlackBerry now faces the question of whether Alloy Kore adds design wins beyond its first. Giamatteo has pointed to Alloy Kore talks with global automakers and major suppliers, particularly in Europe and Asia. Until NVIDIA-based robotics projects start converting into QNX royalties, investors weighing their exposure should size their BB stock positions carefully given the stock’s steep YTD run.

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