Robots are waiting for a ChatGPT moment: Nvidia’s Les Karpas explains why at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026
Nvidia's Les Karpas will discuss the barriers preventing robotics from achieving a breakthrough comparable to ChatGPT at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. The core challenge identified is the lack of a comprehensive internet-scale dataset for physical AI, unlike the abundant data available for language models. Karpas will explore how startups are using simulation and synthetic data to bridge this gap during a session featuring other industry leaders.
- ▪Les Karpas, Global Head of Physical AI at Nvidia Inception, will present a session on the limitations of general-purpose robots at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026.
- ▪The primary obstacle for robotics is the absence of a massive, internet-wide dataset for physical AI, which contrasts with the data abundance in language models.
- ▪Startups are attempting to solve the data scarcity issue by utilizing simulation, synthetic data, and foundation models trained across various robot forms.
- ▪The event is scheduled for October 13-15 at San Francisco's Moscone West and will feature founders from companies like Shield AI and FieldAI.
- ▪Karpas brings a cross-disciplinary background from roles in manufacturing, venture capital, and corporate leadership to address the physical AI bottleneck.
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| Original publisher | TechCrunch |
| Canonical URL | https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/16/robots-are-waiting-for-a-chatgpt-moment-nvidias-les-karpas-explains-why-at-techcrunch-disrupt-2026/ |
| Publication time | Wed, 16 Sep 2026 15:00:00 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-09-16T15:03:41.367Z |
| Last seen | 2026-09-16T15:03:41.367Z |
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| Cluster | Td0jXDg6x26- · 1 stories |
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| Commercial reuse | May the content be reused commercially? | Not permitted |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
The world hasn’t been the same since ChatGPT made its debut in November 2022, when seemingly out of nowhere, a means of engaging with large language models propelled AI beyond hype and into day-to-day reality. Robotics, like AI, has been discussed, built upon, and in some ways adopted for a long time now, but it’s yet to have that big breakthrough moment. And at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, Nvidia Inception’s Global Head of Physical AI, Les Karpas, will dive into why that is and what could change that in his session on the Real World AI Stage, Robots Are Waiting for Their ChatGPT Moment. Here Is What Is Standing in the Way. Image Credits:TechCrunch After all, anyone who’s seen Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s keynotes the past few years knows the company is bullish about the robotics field.
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