Nvidia’s Les Karpas to Speak at Disrupt 2026 Agenda Lineup

Since the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, the landscape of artificial intelligence has radically shifted, bringing AI technology into everyday life. While robotics has made strides over the years, it has yet to experience a transformative breakthrough similar to that of AI.

At the upcoming TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, Les Karpas, Global Head of Physical AI at Nvidia Inception, will discuss the reasons behind this lack of breakthrough and explore potential changes during his session titled Robots Are Waiting for Their ChatGPT Moment. Here Is What Is Standing in the Way, on the Real World AI Stage.

Those familiar with Jensen Huang‘s keynotes at Nvidia events will note the company’s enthusiasm for the field of robotics. Karpas’ insights at Disrupt promise to shed light on both limitations and opportunities in the AI and robotics sectors. The event runs from October 13-15 at San Francisco’s Moscone West, where over 10,000 tech leaders, founders, and investors will gather to hear Karpas and others discuss AI innovations.

Tickets are available now, with a chance to save up to $200 before September 25. Group discounts are also offered, emphasizing community engagement in the Disrupt experience.

The Reality of Robotics’ Challenges

Karpas identifies a significant barrier to the advancement of general-purpose robots: the absence of a comprehensive, internet-wide dataset for physical AI, akin to what OpenAI and others have for language models. Unlike the self-driving car industry, which has benefited from extensive datasets gathered over years, robotics lacks this foundational data.

Emerging startups are now aiming to create this scale artificially, utilizing simulation, synthetic data, and foundation models across various robotic forms. This intersection of digital and physical realms is precisely why the Real World AI Stage was established. Karpas will be joined by leaders from companies like Shield AI, Colossal Biosciences, FieldAI, and Foxglove as they discuss their challenges and opportunities.

An In-Depth Look from Nvidia

Serving in his pivotal role at Nvidia, Karpas is uniquely positioned to address the bottlenecks facing physical AI. He oversees Nvidia’s collaborations within a diverse startup ecosystem that includes sectors like robotics, automotive, and smart cities. Many of these companies are working to fill the data gap in robotics.

Karpas’ extensive experience across various roles—including that of architect, manufacturing engineer, and startup CEO—demonstrates the multifaceted skill set that the robotics industry requires.

Unleashing Potential at Disrupt

Attending Disrupt offers a unique opportunity to learn how Nvidia approaches the main obstacles in physical AI, and what steps are needed to overcome them. Such insights could not only provide a competitive edge but might also inspire the next big startup idea.

Now is the time to act—securing a ticket grants access to vital networking opportunities, fundraising sources, and potential partnerships. Be sure to lock in your spot before ticket prices rise on September 25, and consider group passes for added savings.