Nvidia's les karpas discusses the roadblocks to robotics' breakthrough

Since ChatGPT's launch in November 2022, AI has transitioned from hype to practical use. However, robotics has yet to achieve a similar breakthrough. At TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, Les Karpas, Nvidia Inception’s Global Head of Physical AI, will explore why this is the case and what could change it. Karpas highlights the lack of a comprehensive dataset for physical AI, unlike the internet-wide data available for language models. Self-driving companies like Waymo have built datasets over years, but this remains a challenge for robotics. Startups are now using simulation and synthetic data to bridge the gap. Karpas will join founders from Shield AI, Colossal Biosciences, FieldAI, and Foxglove to discuss their unique challenges. His background spans roles at Stanley Black & Decker, iRobot, and more, reflecting the cross-disciplinary skills needed in robotics. The event, running October 13-15 in San Francisco, offers insights into overcoming the biggest bottleneck in physical AI. Tickets are available until September 25, with discounts for groups.