What happened
Physical Conference Convene San Jose is at the center of this update. The Physical AI Expo North America is set for May 18–19, 2026 in San Jose, gathering global leaders to explore the deployment of AI in robotics, autonomous systems, and real-world applications beyond traditional software.
Physical AI Conference Emphasizes the Shift Toward Real-World AI Applications
The Physical AI Conference, a key event shaping the integration of artificial intelligence into physical systems, will take place in Silicon Valley this May. The conference, branded as Physical AI Expo North America, will be hosted at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center from May 18 to 19, 2026. It aims to unite engineers, innovators, and executives who are advancing AI from software into robotics, autonomous systems, and other real-world deployments.
Transitioning AI from Digital to Physical Domains
As AI technologies evolve rapidly beyond conversational agents and software tools, industries are investing heavily in operationalizing Physical AI at scale. Sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, automotive, and defense increasingly rely on AI systems capable of sensing, reasoning, and acting autonomously in real-world environments. The conference offers a platform to explore how organizations are moving from experimental stages to deploying physical AI solutions in production.
Conference Focus and Agenda
The event’s programming combines deep technical insights with enterprise-level implementation strategies, reflecting the growing importance of embedding intelligence into machines and systems operating physically. Key topics include:
- Scaling Physical AI and Robotics across Enterprises
- Development of Autonomous Systems and Industrial Automation
- AI Infrastructure, Data Platforms, and Computational Technologies
- Enterprise AI Deployment Strategies and Return on Investment
- Human-AI Collaboration in Physical Contexts
- Ensuring AI Reliability, Safety, and Transparency
- Progressing from Prototype Development to Production
- AI Developer Tools and Workflow Optimization
Day-by-Day Breakdown
Day One centers on AI strategy, data infrastructure, and the foundational technologies necessary for scaling physical AI systems within enterprises.
Day Two focuses on practical applications in robotics, autonomous systems, and real-world AI deployments, with dedicated sessions on infrastructure and development workflows.
Industry Leaders and Speakers
The conference program features renowned experts from leading AI and robotics organizations worldwide, including:
- Leslie Karpas, Head of Physical AI at NVIDIA
- Arne Stoschek, VP of AI and Autonomous at Airbus Acubed
- Jose Alvarez, Director of Research at NVIDIA
- Dr. Vinesh Sukumar, VP of AI at Qualcomm
- Simon Ninan, SVP and Global Head of Strategy at Hitachi
- Sungho Kim, CEO of Hyundai Global Software Center
- Naresh Dulam, Senior VP of Software Engineering at JPMorgan
- Pierre-Alexandre Balland, Chief Data Scientist at CEPS and Co-founder of General Robotics
Significance for the AI Industry
Michael Hughes, Head of Conference Production, emphasized the event’s critical role: “Physical AI is rapidly progressing from concept to widespread deployment. The focus has expanded beyond AI models to include infrastructure, robotics, autonomous systems, and building AI that can reliably operate at scale in physical environments. This expo brings together the key players making this future a reality today.”
The Physical AI Expo North America stands out as a premier gathering for stakeholders spanning robotics, AI infrastructure, industrial automation, automotive, logistics, and intelligent system engineering. It highlights the increasing convergence of AI software capabilities with physical machine intelligence, a trend that will define the next phase of AI innovation and adoption.
Related coverage: AI Chronicle analysis and updates.
Sources consulted
- https://www.artificialintelligence-news.com/news/physical-ai-conference-comes-to-san-jose-as-robotics-autonomous-ai-go-mainstream/
- https://nvidianews.nvidia.com/
- https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/
Why it matters
This update influences the AI race across model providers, infrastructure leaders, and enterprise adoption decisions.
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