Shield AI, Waabi, and General Motors to Meet at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026
Technology leaders will discuss the development of high-stakes autonomous AI systems where physical failure is not an option.
At the TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 conference, leaders from Shield AI, Waabi, and General Motors will hold a critical session on developing and deploying high-stakes autonomous systems where physical failure is not an option, addressing safety cultures and regulatory hurdles.
High-Risk Environments
While an ordinary AI chatbot might give an incorrect answer, an AI system managing an aircraft, vehicle, or robot can cause accidents and jeopardize missions.
Real-World Stage
Shield AI CTO Nathan Michael, Waabi founder and CEO Raquel Urtasun, and General Motors Director of Robotics Strategy Mikell Taylor will discuss these challenges at TechCrunch Disrupt.
Critical Safety and Testing
The upcoming session will examine key topics such as using AI in high-risk environments, building safety cultures, and testing and validating systems.
Hivemind and Military Projects
Nathan Michael manages the development processes of Shield AI's Hivemind software platform, which was selected for the U.S. Air Force's collaborative combat aircraft drone prototype program.
Waabi and Robotaxi Partnership
Led by Raquel Urtasun, Waabi has partnered with Uber to support robotaxi operations and continues simulation-based testing and validation activities.
General Motors Robotics Strategy
Mikell Taylor conducts strategic work within the General Motors Autonomous Robotics Center on practical and reliable robots capable of working safely alongside humans.
Conference Details
Taking place at the Moscone West center in San Francisco, TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 will host hundreds of sessions and thousands of attendees in October.