Is this the year AI finally leaves the cloud for the battlefield
techcrunch disrupt 2026 launched a 'real world ai' stage featuring shield ai and colossal biosciences, signaling a critical shift from llms to physical deployment.
techcrunch is expanding its ai programming for the 2026 disrupt conference by adding a 'real world ai' stage dedicated to physical applications. the new track will feature leaders from shield ai, fieldai, and colossal biosciences discussing the challenges of deploying ai in environments where cloud connectivity is unavailable or failure is unacceptable, such as defense, space, and manufacturing. sessions will focus on validating safety for autonomous vehicles, operating at the edge, and scaling deep tech prototypes. this programming shift highlights the industry's move from theoretical models to robotics and edge computing.