Building AI When Failure Is Not an Option
An AI chatbot might occasionally provide a less-than-ideal answer, but when artificial intelligence steps into the physical realm—controlling aircraft, autonomous vehicles, or robots—the stakes escalate dramatically. A single error could ground an aircraft, trigger a vehicle crash, or jeopardize critical missions. This raises an essential question: How can we determine when an autonomous system is truly ready to move beyond the lab and into real-world deployment?
At TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, three leading experts—Shield AI’s CTO Nathan Michael, Waabi founder and CEO Raquel Urtasun, and General Motors’ Director of Robotics Strategy Mikell Taylor—will explore this vital topic on the Real World AI Stage in their session, “Building AI Systems When Failure Is Not an Option.”
The upcoming discussion will delve deeply into the rigorous process of deploying AI in environments where mistakes are costly. Topics include cultivating a safety-first culture, thorough testing and validation of AI systems, navigating complex regulatory landscapes, and building public trust in autonomous technologies.
For innovators and enthusiasts interested in how AI is built to operate in the real world, tomorrow marks the last opportunity to save up to $200 on passes to Disrupt 2026. Secure your ticket by September 25 at 11:59 p.m. PT to hear from industry leaders where failure simply isn’t an option. After this deadline, prices will increase.
Ready for the Mission?
Shield AI is at the forefront of AI for mission-critical environments. Nathan Michael, the company’s chief technology officer, guides the development of Hivemind, a platform-agnostic mission autonomy software designed for high-stakes applications. Michael’s extensive background in AI, control systems, perception, and multi-robot coordination includes leadership at Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute, where he directed the Resilient Intelligent Systems Lab.
Shield AI’s technology recently gained recognition when Hivemind was selected in February as the autonomy provider for the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone prototype program—a significant endorsement of its reliability and performance. Furthermore, in March, Shield AI closed a $1.5 billion Series G funding round, boosting its valuation to $12.7 billion, underscoring investor confidence in its cutting-edge autonomous systems.
At Disrupt, Michael will share insights on balancing AI performance with assurance, a critical factor when deploying systems where failure carries severe consequences.
What does it take to trust AI with a mission? Secure your Disrupt pass before September 25 at 11:59 p.m. PT to hear Nathan Michael’s expert perspective on developing autonomy for high-stakes environments.
Ready for the Road?
Raquel Urtasun, founder and CEO of Waabi, brings a wealth of experience from over 25 years in AI and autonomous vehicles. Before starting Waabi, she served as chief scientist and head of R&D at Uber ATG, contributing significantly to the autonomous driving field. Urtasun is also a professor at the University of Toronto and co-founder of the Vector Institute for AI, with more than 200 published AI research papers.
Waabi is pushing the boundaries of autonomous driving technology, recently raising $1 billion and partnering with Uber to deploy 25,000+ Waabi Driver-powered robotaxis. Central to Waabi’s strategy is rigorous testing and validation, exemplified by its Waabi World simulator that trains, tests, and stress-tests autonomous systems in virtual environments. Despite advancements, Waabi acknowledges the necessity for full validation before driverless trucks become operational.
This approach directly addresses a critical question of the session: How do you determine when an AI system is ready to operate independently without human intervention?
Interested in the testing, validation, and deployment strategies of autonomous-driving pioneers? Secure your Disrupt pass by September 25 at 11:59 p.m. PT to save up to $200 and receive a second pass for 50% off select ticket types.
Ready to Work Alongside People?
Mikell Taylor, Director of Robotics Strategy at General Motors’ Autonomous Robotics Center, has over 20 years of experience developing robots designed for practical, everyday use. Her career highlights include leading the Amazon Robotics team responsible for Proteus, Amazon’s first autonomous mobile robot. Interestingly, her robotics journey began with a far less industrial project: building a robotic senior prom date.
Taylor’s expertise spans autonomous underwater vehicles to industrial robotic systems, all emphasizing reliability and effective human-robot collaboration. A vital insight she brings is the importance of designing with user experience and adoption in mind from the outset. When AI-powered machines transition from controlled lab demonstrations to real-world workplaces, their success depends on how well people can trust and interact with them.
How do you build autonomous systems that people can work alongside and depend on? Register for Disrupt before September 25 at 11:59 p.m. PT to save up to $200 and hear firsthand from leaders tackling these challenges in real-world robotics.
Learn How to Know When AI Is Ready at Disrupt
Whether it’s aircraft, autonomous vehicles, or industrial robots, the environments differ, but the core question remains the same: When failure has real-world consequences, how do you deploy AI with confidence?
This session at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 offers founders and technology leaders a unique opportunity to compare approaches from defense, autonomous driving, and industrial robotics sectors. The insights shared will illuminate how top experts decide when a promising AI system is ready for real-world deployment.
This session is one of over 200 across six industry stages, roundtables, and breakout sessions at Disrupt, taking place October 13-15 at Moscone West in San Francisco. The event will host more than 10,000 founders, investors, operators, and tech leaders, alongside 250+ speakers and over 300 exhibiting startups. Beyond the agenda, extensive matchmaking, dealmaking, and networking opportunities will facilitate connections to advance companies and technologies.
When failure isn’t an option, “almost ready” simply won’t suffice. These are the final two days to save up to $200 on your Disrupt pass. Secure your ticket by September 25 at 11:59 p.m. PT—and receive a second pass for 50% off select ticket types.
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