From SaaS reckoning to agent security gap: AI’s future at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026

AI has not only transformed how startups build products—it has fundamentally disrupted how they sell, protect their data and customers, and scale faster than ever before. Returning to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, the AI Stage, presented by Google for Startups, dives into the most pressing topic in the community over the past few years. This time, we are examining the business models AI is reshaping, the many unresolved security gaps, and the entirely new job categories AI has created from scratch.
From October 13–15 at Moscone Center in San Francisco, join leaders from across the AI industry as they tackle the real challenges founders face today. We will discuss how to price AI products when models become commoditized, why agent security must be rebuilt from the infrastructure up, and what a go-to-market strategy actually looks like in an AI-native world.
We are also approaching the end of our current pricing window, so your chance to save up to $300 is ending soon. Grab your ticket here before it is gone. Without further delay, here is what is on deck for the AI Stage, with more announcements to come:
The Enterprise Isn’t Broken. Your Assumptions About It Are.
AI is now making autonomous decisions inside the world’s most sensitive enterprise systems, at a speed that traditional security frameworks were never designed for. This session breaks down what enterprise AI security actually requires in 2026—from observability and governance to the architecture that separates deployments enterprises can trust from those they cannot afford to risk.
With Arsalan Tavakoli, Co-founder and SVP of Field Engineering, Databricks
The Video Intelligence Race: Real-Time, Reasoning, and What Comes Next
Visual AI has moved beyond attention-grabbing demos into real-time inference and physical reasoning. Founders building at the frontier discuss what happens when generation crosses into genuine intelligence.
With Dean Leitersdorf, Co-founder and CEO, Decart, and Amit Jain, Co-founder and CEO, Luma AI
The GTM Engineer: How AI Created Tech’s Next Big Job Category
GTM engineering did not exist two years ago—now it is one of the fastest-growing roles in tech, with independent practitioners building million-dollar businesses. Walk away understanding what AI-native GTM looks like in practice and how it is reshaping growth.
With Kareem Amin, Co-founder and CEO, Clay
Whether you are rethinking your pricing model, closing the security gaps in your AI stack, or building the go-to-market playbook that does not yet exist, the AI Stage is where the builders shaping this next wave get specific.
Plus, you will do all this alongside 10,000+ startup, tech, and VC leaders, with access to every other stage, Startup Battlefield, a wealth of networking opportunities, and the exhibition floor. Register today!
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AI has not only transformed how startups build products—it has fundamentally disrupted how they sell, protect their data and customers, and scale faster than ever before. Returning to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, the AI Stage, presented by Google for Startups, dives into the most pressing topic in the community over the past few years. This time, we are examining the business models AI is reshaping, the many unresolved security gaps, and the entirely new job categories AI has created from scratch.
From October 13–15 at Moscone Center in San Francisco, join leaders from across the AI industry as they tackle the real challenges founders face today. We will discuss how to price AI products when models become commoditized, why agent security must be rebuilt from the infrastructure up, and what a go-to-market strategy actually looks like in an AI-native world.
We are also approaching the end of our current pricing window, so your chance to save up to $300 is ending soon. Grab your ticket here before it is gone. Without further delay, here is what is on deck for the AI Stage, with more announcements to come:
The Enterprise Isn’t Broken. Your Assumptions About It Are.
AI is now making autonomous decisions inside the world’s most sensitive enterprise systems, at a speed that traditional security frameworks were never designed for. This session breaks down what enterprise AI security actually requires in 2026—from observability and governance to the architecture that separates deployments enterprises can trust from those they cannot afford to risk.
With Arsalan Tavakoli, Co-founder and SVP of Field Engineering, Databricks
The Video Intelligence Race: Real-Time, Reasoning, and What Comes Next
Visual AI has moved beyond attention-grabbing demos into real-time inference and physical reasoning. Founders building at the frontier discuss what happens when generation crosses into genuine intelligence.
With Dean Leitersdorf, Co-founder and CEO, Decart, and Amit Jain, Co-founder and CEO, Luma AI
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GTM engineering did not exist two years ago—now it is one of the fastest-growing roles in tech, with independent practitioners building million-dollar businesses. Walk away understanding what AI-native GTM looks like in practice and how it is reshaping growth.
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Whether you are rethinking your pricing model, closing the security gaps in your AI stack, or building the go-to-market playbook that does not yet exist, the AI Stage is where the builders shaping this next wave get specific.
Plus, you will do all this alongside 10,000+ startup, tech, and VC leaders, with access to every other stage, Startup Battlefield, a wealth of networking opportunities, and the exhibition floor. Register today!
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