Robots that can reason may soon become part of everyday life, and Qualcomm’s executive vice president says the transformation will start with your car.
The U.S. semiconductor company, known for powering most smartphones with its mobile processors, recently announced plans to compete with Nvidia and AMD in AI chip development. Nakul Duggal, Qualcomm’s executive vice president and former head of auto and smart products, says AI will usher in a new era for robotics.
“I think robots are going to become much more pervasive than people think,” Duggal told Fortune Brainstorm AI.
As Qualcomm transforms its operations and culture, the company has expanded AI partnerships, integrating Google’s Gemini models to create in-car AI assistants. These systems provide features like lane-keeping, automated parking, hands-free highway driving, and voice-controlled assistants for automakers such as Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and General Motors.
Qualcomm launched its first driver-assistance stack—a combination of hardware and software—with BMW in September. The stack is now deployed in 60 countries, a rollout that took three and a half years. Duggal expects the system to reach 100 countries by the end of next year.
Looking at companies like Waymo and Tesla, Duggal noted it has taken about a decade for autonomous and driver-assisted technologies to become widely available. “Ten years is a pretty short period of time for the type of adoption that society has for things like driving, which is all about safety and reliability,” he said. “I think the next five years is going to move even faster.”
Despite concerns about safety, demand for semi-autonomous driving is rising. An AutoPacific survey of licensed drivers planning to buy new vehicles in the next three years found 43% want hands-off highway driving—a 20-point jump from 2024.
Duggal emphasized that developing safe, regulated technology requires a clear framework of rules and guardrails. “AI then layers on top of that structured framework,” he explained, ensuring that innovations in automotive AI are both safe and practical for daily use.
Qualcomm’s strategy reflects a broader push to bring advanced AI into cars first, setting the stage for wider adoption of robotics across society in the coming years.
