OpenAI just made one of its biggest bets yet on what comes after the c

OpenAI just made one of its biggest bets yet on what comes after the chatbot. Now, the person leading that product is coming to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 , happening October 13-15. Alexander Embiricos , product lead for Dots at OpenAI, will join us at Moscone West in San Francisco just days after the company unveiled its new always-on personal AI agent. Image Credits: TechCrunch Dots are designed to go beyond answering prompts. They have their own cloud computers, can connect to the apps people use every day, and can keep working toward a goal in the background, potentially giving AI far greater access to our work and digital lives. Don’t miss this conversation, happening exclusively on the AI Stage at Disrupt. Register now to save up to $100 on your ticket and get a second pass at 50% off. What happens when AI starts acting for us? That increased autonomy also raises some much harder questions. How much control are we actually willing to hand over to an AI agent? What should it be allowed to do without asking? And as these systems learn more about us and gain access to increasingly sensitive information, can companies like OpenAI earn enough trust for people to use them? At Disrupt, Embiricos will sit down with TechCrunch for his session called “ What Comes After the Chatbot? ” to talk about the thinking behind Dots , where OpenAI believes personal agents are headed, and why privacy and trust could ultimately determine whether they take off. Join Alexander Embiricos and 250+ tech leaders spearheading the conversations across 200+ sessions in the six industry stages, roundtables, and breakouts at TechCrunch Disrupt, October 13–15 at Moscone West in San Francisco. Don’t forget about 10,000 founders, investors, and operators that you can spark meaningful connections with. Disrupt is just seven days away. Save up to $100 on your ticket before rates increase and get a second pass at 50% off. Image Credits: Eric Slomonson, The Photo Group Topics AI , OpenAI , Startups , TechCrunch Disrupt When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission . This doesn’t affect our editorial independence. TechCrunch Events View Bio October 13 – 15 San Francisco Get 50% off a second pass The Disrupt experience is meant to be shared. Get your pass and bring a colleague, partner, or peer at 50% off. Cover more ground by making connections, building momentum, and discovering what’s next in the startup ecosystem. BOOK NOW Most Popular At 19, founder raises $11M for Ghost, maker of a $3,499 computer for personal AI Dominic-Madori Davis Federal judge calls Flock ‘indiscriminate mass surveillance’ Anthony Ha Amazon responds to data center backlash, says it no longer uses NDAs Anthony Ha OpenAI safety employee resigns, claiming the company’s ‘culture is broken’ Anthony Ha Meta wants your next gadget to be Muse-infused Kirsten Korosec Google thinks SpaceX’s Starship has to launch 1,800 times before space data centers get off the ground Tim Fernholz World’s first enhanced geothermal power plant completed in just 23 months Tim De Chant