Qualcomm Acquires Arduino in Strategic IoT and AI Edge Play

Qualcomm has announced the acquisition of Arduino, the popular open-source hardware and software platform used by millions of developers worldwide, in a strategic move to expand its presence in the robotics, Internet of Things (IoT), and AI edge computing markets.

The deal, announced October 8, 2025, will see Arduino maintain its independent brand and mission while gaining access to Qualcomm's advanced computing and AI capabilities. New offerings including the Qualcomm-powered Arduino UNO Q and the AppLab development environment will give developers easier access to edge AI technologies.

'This acquisition represents our commitment to democratizing AI and advanced computing at the edge,' said a Qualcomm spokesperson. 'Arduino's massive developer community combined with our chip technology will accelerate innovation in IoT and robotics.'

Arduino has been instrumental in the maker movement and educational technology, with its simple, accessible platform enabling countless innovations. The company's boards and software are used in everything from art installations to industrial automation.

The acquisition comes as the edge computing market is expected to grow significantly, driven by AI applications that require local processing rather than cloud connectivity. Industry analysts view this as Qualcomm's play to compete more effectively with NVIDIA and Intel in the edge AI market.