At TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, Gusto, Insight Partners, and Leland will explore how AI agents are becoming integral to early-stage startup teams. The event will address how founders can balance human and AI contributions without compromising speed, accountability, or culture.
The session, titled 'Hiring When AI Is a Co-Founder,' will take place on the Builders Stage at Moscone West in San Francisco.
Early-stage companies are rethinking team composition as AI agents take on roles such as engineering, customer support, and operational tasks.
This shift allows founders to question whether a person is the best fit for a given role, rather than automatically seeking the next hire.
The discussion will focus on how to assign responsibilities to AI while ensuring ownership and decision-making remain in human hands.
Josh Reeves, CEO of Gusto, highlights the growing importance of AI in managing the daily operations of small businesses. Michelle Johnson, senior vice president at Insight Partners, brings a perspective on scaling startups with AI, while John Koelliker, CEO of Leland, offers insights on how talent and AI intersect in the modern workforce.
"The role of an early employee may increasingly be defined by judgment, ownership, and the ability to direct both people and machines," said Josh Reeves. This shift has implications for how startups prioritize skills and responsibilities when building their teams.
The session follows a broader trend of AI integration in startups, raising questions about the balance between human and machine contributions. The discussion will also address the limitations of AI and what remains uniquely human in team dynamics.
Source: techcrunch
