Shield AI’s chief technology officer Nathan Michael will discuss the development of Hivemind, the company’s mission autonomy software, at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. The platform is being used in the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone program, marking a significant step in deploying AI in high-stakes environments.
Shield AI announced $1.5 billion in Series G funding in February, raising its post-money valuation to $12.7 billion. This funding supports the expansion of its autonomy technologies, including Hivemind, which is designed for environments where AI performance must be matched by assurance.
Waabi’s founder and CEO Raquel Urtasun will share insights on the challenges of validating autonomous-driving systems. The company raised $1 billion in January and is working with Uber to deploy 25,000 or more Waabi Driver-powered robotaxis, though full validation remains a key hurdle before driverless deployment.
"Testing and validation are central to our approach," said Raquel Urtasun, founder and CEO of Waabi. "We need to ensure our autonomous trucks are fully validated before they can operate without human oversight." This emphasis on thorough testing reflects the broader industry challenge of ensuring AI systems are safe for real-world use.
General Motors’ Director of Robotics Strategy Mikell Taylor will address the human factors in deploying autonomous systems. Her experience includes leading Amazon’s Robotics team and developing robots that can work effectively alongside people in industrial settings.
The session will explore how leaders in defense, autonomous driving, and industrial robotics approach the critical decisions that determine when an AI system is ready for the real world. "Almost ready" is not enough when the consequences of failure are real, according to the organizers.
Source: techcrunch
