TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 Highlights AI Hardware in Motion

TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 brings AI hardware into the spotlight

TechCrunch Disrupt lands at Moscone West in San Francisco from October 27 to 29, 2025, gathering more than 10,000 startup founders, VCs, and technologists. Among the packed agenda, one AI Stage session stands out: a live, hardware-focused conversation about where robotics and autonomous systems are headed next.

Raquel Urtasun, founder and CEO of Waabi, joins Jeff Cardenas, co-founder and CEO of Apptronik, to discuss what it takes to put intelligence into motion. The session will include real-time looks at robotics and autonomous systems that push physical limits and confront real-world physics.

AI meets real-world physics

This conversation digs into the complex systems that power autonomous vehicles and humanoid robots: high-fidelity simulation, sensor fusion, control software, and the infrastructure needed to scale safely. Waabi and Apptronik are testing the boundaries where perception, planning, and mechanical design converge.

Why tune into this session? AI has transformed software. Bringing intelligence into the messy, noisy physical world exposes new bottlenecks: simulation mismatch, sensor limitations, safety verification, maintenance logistics, and regulatory hurdles. Hearing leaders who operate both in simulation and on hardware is rare and instructive.

What to expect

• Live demonstrations of robots and autonomous systems in action
• Deep dives on simulation fidelity, sensor suites, and safety frameworks
• Practical discussion of deployment timelines, costs, and infrastructure impacts
• Insights on workforce shifts and regulatory considerations

The session is less about hype and more about trade-offs. Expect candid discussion of breakthroughs and bottlenecks—where research and engineering still need to meet real-world constraints.

Who should attend and next steps

Founders, investors, operators, and public-sector leaders will find practical signals in this talk. If you’re evaluating autonomous fleets, robotics for warehouses or inspection, or urban infrastructure upgrades, the discussion will highlight near-term technical risks and where investment will accelerate impact.

TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 registration is open. Attendees can save up to $668 before prices rise on September 26 at 11:59 p.m. PT. For teams planning pilots or evaluating suppliers, this session is a compact way to compare real-world claims against operational realities.

At QuarkyByte we cut through product roadmaps and demo-day polish to surface measurable readiness. We synthesize simulation metrics, sensor performance, and safety evidence so leaders can prioritize pilots and procurement with confidence. If you want to move from talk to tested deployment, this session — and the conversations it sparks — is worth your calendar.