Power up your AI infrastructure! A first look at the Smart Systems Stage agenda at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026
At TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, the Smart Systems Stage will be where energy, infrastructure, and technology collide, covering everything from fusion breakthroughs to the grid strain AI is putting on the entire economy.
AI requires massive amounts of power to operate, and this power demand is increasingly becoming a critical constraint on AI's growth and development. TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 will feature a Smart Systems Stage dedicated to exploring how energy, infrastructure, and technology intersect, with sessions covering fusion power breakthroughs, grid modernization, and data center operators' efforts to secure electricity for AI systems. The event will bring together leaders from fusion companies, energy firms, and startups to discuss commercial fusion's path forward, aging infrastructure challenges, and how the power system needs to evolve to support growing electricity demand. This focus reflects a broader recognition that understanding AI's power requirements and infrastructure constraints is essential context for understanding what may limit AI's future expansion.
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