AI vibe check: Searching for human signals at a San Francisco tech conference

The Dell Laptop Buying Guide UK: Which Dell Laptop Should You Buy? When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. AI looms large in the big national conversation. Would I find any recognition of growing concern and cynicism at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026? I spoke 1-on-1 with startup founders, searching for signals of a new AI vibe. As I was developing my reporting plan for TechCrunch Disrupt last week, one key question loomed large in my head: Would I find any AI startups at this annual summit for fledgling tech companies? The conference is in San Francisco, after all, so finding AI tech might prove difficult. But I wanted to at least try.