TechCrunch Disrupt 2026’s new Real World AI Stage features Nvidia, robots, and extinct animals

TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 will introduce a new Real World AI Stage focused on how AI is moving from digital systems into the physical world. The programming will highlight areas such as robotics, Nvidia-related AI infrastructure, and unusual applications including extinct animals.

The new stage reflects growing interest in embodied AI, where software intelligence increasingly interacts with real environments through machines, sensors, and simulations. It also signals that AI industry conversations are shifting beyond chatbots toward infrastructure, automation, and science-driven applications.