TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 to host talk on hiring AI agents at startups

In short: A session at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 will focus on how startups are starting to treat AI agents as part of the team, not just a tool.

What happened

TechCrunch announced a Builders Stage session for TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 called “Hiring When AI Is a Co-Founder.” It will be held at Moscone West in San Francisco during the conference, which runs October 13 to 15.

The speakers are Josh Reeves, CEO and co-founder of Gusto, Michelle Johnson, a senior vice president at Insight Partners, and John Koelliker, CEO and co-founder of Leland. The session will look at how early-stage companies, meaning young startups, are building teams where humans work alongside AI agents.

An AI agent is software that can carry out multi-step tasks on its own, more like a junior coworker than a simple helper (think of it like a very fast assistant that can follow a checklist, but still needs supervision). The discussion will cover which jobs founders might hand to agents, such as engineering tasks, customer support, research, and operations, and what should stay with people.

TechCrunch also noted a pricing deadline for attendees. People who register before September 25 can save up to $200 on passes, according to the event details.

Why it matters

For many startups, the first hires shape the company’s future. If some work can be done by AI agents, founders may hire fewer people at first, or hire different kinds of roles that focus more on judgment, responsibility, and checking the agent’s work.

Source: TechCrunch AI