Disrupt 2026 launches Real World AI Stage with Nvidia and robotics leaders

TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 will debut a new Real World AI Stage focused on the intersection of digital and physical AI, including autonomous hardware and robotics. Speakers include Nvidia's Les Karpas and representatives from Shield AI, Colossal Biosciences, and FieldAI. The event takes place October 13-15 at Moscone West in San Francisco.
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The new stage addresses a core challenge in physical AI: robots lack the massive datasets that powered language model breakthroughs. Nvidia's Les Karpas will discuss what a "ChatGPT moment" for robotics would require, while Shield AI's CTO explores safety validation when failures carry real-world consequences. Colossal Biosciences CEO Ben Lamm brings a controversial angle, discussing AI's role in de-extinction efforts. Additional sessions cover edge computing for environments without reliable cloud connectivity and the difficult transition from working prototypes to scalable products.
The event's expansion from one AI stage to two reflects how rapidly the field has diversified. Sessions span defense, space, industrial applications, and biotechnology, suggesting organizers see physical AI as a distinct discipline with its own technical and ethical challenges.