The AI Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, happening October 27-29 in San Francisco, is officially locked and loaded, featuring the powerhouses shaping the future of artificial intelligence.
Join the leaders from Character.AI, Hugging Face, Mercor, Runway, Wayve, and many more top tech voices as they tackle everything from generative AI and developer tools to autonomous vehicles, creative machines, and national security. Founders will get a first look at the technologies defining the next wave of innovation and will hear the strategies, lessons, and insights directly from the teams building them.
Want a front-row seat to the future of AI in scaling, investing, and building? The AI Stage is where it all happens — plus breakouts, roundtables, breakthroughs, and networking you won’t find anywhere else. Register before September 26 and save up to $668.
The complete AI Stage agenda
Explore the complete agenda for the AI Stage and all of TechCrunch Disrupt.
Betting on the Next Wave: What VCs Want in AI Startups
With Aileen Lee, founder, Cowboy Ventures; Steve Jang, founder, Kindred Ventures; and Jon McNeill, founder, DVx Ventures, former COO of Lyft and president of Tesla
Discover what opportunities are real, what is hype, and how founders can navigate the turbulence of AI’s next frontier. Learn which areas have the most potential and what common pitfalls to avoid.
Driving Intelligence
With Alex Kendall, CEO, Wayve
Techcrunch event Join 10k+ tech and VC leaders for growth and connections at Disrupt 2025 Netflix, Box, a16z, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital, Elad Gil — just some of the 250+ heavy hitters leading 200+ sessions designed to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don’t miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech. Grab your ticket before Sept 26 to save up to $668. Join 10k+ tech and VC leaders for growth and connections at Disrupt 2025 Netflix, Box, a16z, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital, Elad Gil — just some of the 250+ heavy hitters leading 200+ sessions designed to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don’t miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech. Grab your ticket before Sept 26 to save up to $668. San Francisco | REGISTER NOW
Explore AI-first self-driving and the race to develop autonomous systems trained end-to-end on real-world data. Learn which breakthroughs are enabling progress and which barriers still remain.
Intelligence in Motion and the Future of Physical AI
With Jeff Cardenas, CEO, Apptronik; and Raquel Urtasun, CEO, Waabi
From autonomous trucks to humanoid robots, AI is moving beyond the screen into the physical world. Discover how close we are to large-scale deployment and the challenges that remain.
Why the Next Frontier Is Search
With Edo Liberty, CEO, Pinecone
As generative AI reshapes how we find and use information, vector search is becoming the hidden backbone of the next wave of applications. Where is this technology headed, and what does it mean for startups?
Shaping the AI Stack with Hugging Face
With Thomas Wolf, co-founder and CSO, Hugging Face
The infrastructure powering AI is evolving fast. Hugging Face’s CSO breaks down the battle over models, frameworks, and platforms that will define the future AI stack.
Image Credits:Hugging Face
Vibe Coding? Cute. Now Let’s Get Real and Talk About AI Built for Developers
In partnership with Kirill Skrygan, CEO, JetBrains
Forget parlor tricks — what does AI actually mean for developers writing code every day? JetBrains’ CEO digs into the tools that will last and the ones that won’t.
AI That Talks Back: Character.AI in the Spotlight
With Karandeep Anand, CEO, Character.AI
From conversation bots to lifelike digital personalities, Character.AI is reshaping human-computer interaction. Founders building in conversational AI will gain unique insights.
Creative Machines and Where AI Meets Imagination
With Soyoung Lee, co-founder and GTM, Twelve Labs; Nikola Todorovic, co-founder and CEO, Wonder Dynamics, an Autodesk company; Prateek Dixit, co-founder, PocketFM
See how AI is powering the next generation of content creation and how startups are building products that captivate millions of users across media, entertainment, and education.
Image Credits:Diego Donamaria/Getty Images for SXSW
From Ads to Films: Creating with Code
With Alejandro Matamala Ortiz, chief design officer, Runway
Generative video is no longer science fiction — it’s shaping ads, films, and creative workflows today. Runway’s co-founder unpacks where creative AI is headed next.
Love, Lies, and Algorithms: The Truth About AI in Matters of the Heart
With Dr. Amanda Gesselman, head of research analytics, Kinsey Institute; Mark Kantor, head of product, Tinder; and Eugenia Kuyda, founder, Replika
AI is reshaping relationships and human interaction. Discover how the next generation of dating and connection is being influenced by intelligent algorithms and what founders need to know in this space.
What Startups Can Learn from Google Cloud’s AI Playbook
With Will Grannis, CTO, Google Cloud
Learn practical lessons from one of the world’s most advanced AI operations. Explore what strategies startups can adopt, what pitfalls to avoid, and how to scale AI at every stage.
Building Intelligence for Modern Defense
With Ethan Thornton, CEO, Mach Industries
Defense is becoming one of the fastest-moving frontiers in AI. Mach Industries’ founder and CEO shares how startups are shaping the next generation of national security technology.
AI and National Security in the High-Stakes Race to Innovate
With Kathleen Fisher, director, DARPA; Sri Chandrasekar, managing partner, Point72; Justin Fanelli, CTO, U.S. Department of Navy
National security is embracing AI at unprecedented speed. Explore the opportunities, challenges, and high-stakes decisions shaping the future of defense technology.
AI Meets the Future of Work
With Brendan Foody, CEO, Mercor
Hiring, training, and productivity are actively being redefined by AI and automation. Discover how these changes will impact the future of work and what founders should know.
Smarter Streets: How AI Is Driving the Future of Transportation
With Praveen Naga, CTO, Uber; and Dave Ferguson, co-founder and president, Nuro
You’ll get a first look at how AI is transforming rides, deliveries, and the future of mobility.
Secure your access to the AI Stage now and lock in your savings
Don’t miss a single moment of the future of AI. From robotic demonstrations to in-depth discussions on AI ethics, now is the time to secure your last-minute savings of up to $668 on your TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 pass. Register now before September 26 at 11:59 p.m. PT.