Nvidia's Les Karpas: Robots Waiting for a ChatGPT Moment at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026

ChatGPT’s November 2022 launch abruptly shifted AI from theoretical hype to everyday utility, fundamentally changing how we interact with large language models.

Robotics has long been a subject of discussion and development, yet it lacks that singular breakthrough moment. At TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, Les Karpas, Nvidia Inception’s Global Head of Physical AI, will explore these hurdles and potential solutions in his Real World AI Stage session, Robots Are Waiting for Their ChatGPT Moment. Here Is What Is Standing in the Way.

Image Credits:TechCrunch

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s recent keynotes highlight the company’s strong conviction in robotics. At Disrupt, Karpas will detail the current limitations and opportunities in AI and robotics. From October 13-15 at San Francisco’s Moscone West, join 10,000+ tech leaders, founders, and investors to hear Karpas and our extensive AI-focused lineup, covering everything from startup building to real-world applications.

Secure your ticket now to save up to $200 before September 25, after which our prices increase. Save up to 30% when you bring a group, as the Disrupt experience is designed for shared learning.

The all-too-real problem facing robotics

Karpas identifies a core limitation for general-purpose robots: the lack of an internet-scale dataset for physical AI. Unlike language models trained by OpenAI or Anthropic, robotics lacks this vast data foundation. Even self-driving fleets like Waymo rely on years of accumulated road miles, with datasets still expanding market by market.

A growing startup ecosystem is attempting to bridge this gap through simulation, synthetic data, and foundation models trained across multiple robot types. This challenge of connecting digital and physical worlds inspired the Real World AI Stage. Karpas will join founders from Shield AI, Colossal Biosciences, FieldAI, and Foxglove to discuss their unique challenges and opportunities.

Nvidia’s unique perspective comes to Disrupt

Karpas is uniquely positioned to address the questions posed in his session. As Nvidia Inception’s Global Head of Physical AI, he manages relationships with a diverse startup ecosystem spanning robotics, automotive, manufacturing, mobility, and smart cities. He regularly engages with the very companies striving to close this data gap.

His career path reflects the cross-disciplinary expertise required in robotics. Having held roles at Stanley Black & Decker, Intellectual Ventures, Herman Miller, iRobot, and Cirque du Soleil, he has served as an architect, manufacturing engineer, startup CEO, venture studio executive, and corporate venture capitalist.

Create your own breakthroughs at Disrupt

This is your opportunity to hear directly about Nvidia’s approach to the biggest bottleneck in physical AI and how to overcome it. These insights can give you a competitive edge or spark ideas for your next venture. Disrupt delivers this inspiration through direct engagement and networking.

Act quickly to secure the access you need, whether for fundraising or discovering new startups. Lock in your trip before prices increase on September 25. Bring a group and save up to 30% on bundle passes.

Image Credits:Slava Blazer Photography / Flickr (opens in a new window)