TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 Features Five Key AI Safety Sessions

TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, scheduled for October 13-15, will include five critical sessions focused on AI safety, addressing the transition from AI experimentation to production.

Ric Smith, President of Products and Technology at Okta, emphasizes that if AI agents are part of a product roadmap, security must also be integrated. Rudy Mitra, VP of Security Services at AWS, states that security, governance, and observability become essential when deploying AI in critical systems. Nathan Michael, CTO at Shield AI, raises the question of how to determine when an autonomous system is safe for deployment.

Les Karpas, Global Head of Physical AI at Nvidia, highlights the data challenges faced by robots, indicating a need for robust data management strategies.

The event is expected to attract 10,000 attendees, feature over 250 speakers, and showcase more than 300 exhibiting startups. The deadline to book an exhibit table is September 18, and attendees can save $200 on passes before September 25 at 11:59 p.m. PT. This follows a growing trend where enterprises have been running AI pilots for 18 months, indicating a shift towards more serious AI integration in business operations.