At past TechCrunch Disrupt events, AI has dominated the spotlight—both across the main programming and on its own dedicated stage. This year, as the technology, its implications, and the players behind it evolve at breakneck speed and scale, we're expanding our AI coverage into two distinct stages.
The AI Stage returns as expected, with a full lineup of sessions and speakers you can review here. But the Real World AI Stage is a brand-new addition to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026.
This stage zeroes in on the intersection of the digital and physical realms—exploring how autonomous hardware is moving beyond self-driving cars and into public spaces, battlefields, our homes, and even potentially bringing extinct species back to Earth.
We've packed the lineup with visionaries from Shield AI, Colossal Biosciences, FieldAI, Foxglove, and more to be announced. Join us from October 13 to 15 at San Francisco's Moscone West—register here to secure your spot. Meanwhile, here's a sneak peek at the Real World AI Stage sessions.
Robots Are Waiting for Their ChatGPT Moment: Here's What's Standing in the Way
Large language models had the internet. Self-driving cars had millions of hours of road data. Robots, so far, have neither. This data gap is the single biggest reason most experts believe general-purpose robotic intelligence remains years away, despite breakthroughs elsewhere in AI. A new wave of startups is racing to close that gap, building data pipelines, simulation environments, and foundation models that could trigger the same capability explosion we witnessed with LLMs. This session confronts the hard question: What does the ChatGPT moment for physical AI actually require—and how close are we really?
Featuring Les Karpas, Head of Physical AI, Nvidia.
Building AI Systems When Failure Is Not an Option
When AI enters the physical world, the stakes of failure shift dramatically. A single misstep could ground an aircraft, cause a vehicle crash, or compromise a mission.
In this session, leaders building autonomous vehicles, defense technologies, and industrial systems tackle one of the hardest questions every hard-tech founder must face: How do you know your system is ready for safe deployment?
We'll explore how founders can foster a culture of safety, rigorously test and validate AI, navigate complex regulatory landscapes, and build companies that earn trust when the stakes couldn't be higher.
Featuring Nate Michael, CTO, Shield AI.
Can We Engineer Nature's Comeback?
De-extinction isn't science fiction anymore—it's an emerging engineering challenge. Colossal Biosciences is leveraging advances in genomics, synthetic biology, and AI to bring species like the woolly mammoth back to life, with the ultimate goal of restoring ecosystems and combating biodiversity loss. But this ambition raises profound ethical, ecological, and technological questions. Join us as we explore how AI and biotechnology are converging to rewrite the rules of conservation—and what that means for our planet's future.
Additional speakers to be announced soon.
Why the Physical World Is AI's Next Frontier
From warehouse robots to defense drones, AI is increasingly embodied in hardware that interacts with—and impacts—our physical surroundings. This panel examines the systemic challenges and opportunities that come with deploying AI beyond the screen, including scalability, real-time decision-making, and the infrastructure needed to support truly autonomous systems. Expect a forward-looking discussion on how far we are from seeing physical AI become as ubiquitous as smartphones.
Featuring representatives from FieldAI, Foxglove, and more.
What to Expect at Disrupt 2026
Beyond the Real World AI Stage, Disrupt 2026 offers a full spectrum of programming designed for founders, investors, and technologists. Expect hands-on workshops, startup showcases, and networking opportunities that connect you with the people shaping the next decade of innovation.
Don't miss your chance to be part of the conversation. Register now to join us in San Francisco this October, and stay tuned for more announcements as we finalize the agenda.
via TechCrunch AI