/ About this event
AI Frontier Summit 2026 brings together AI founders, researchers, investors, and industry leaders to examine how the next generation of intelligent systems is being built—from autonomous agents and physical AI to infrastructure innovations integrating GPUs, memory, photonics, and interconnect technologies. The summit connects technical breakthroughs with real-world deployment, business strategy, and investment opportunities.
What You’ll Explore • Chips, infrastructure, memory, photonics, interconnect, security, and the AI supply chain • Agentic AI moving toward reliable production systems and self-improved systems • Physical AI, Robotics, embodied intelligence development • Curated startup demonstrations and high-value ecosystem connections
Program (DRAFT, SUBJECT TO CHANGE) 10:30–11:00 AM | Speaker, sponsor and production arrival 11:00–11:30 AM | Registration, networking and demo showcase 11:30 – 11:45 AM | Welcome from the hosts and UCSC Chancellor Cynthia Larive 11:45 – 12:25 PM | Panel 1: Future of AI Computing: Chips and Infra. 12:25 – 1:10 PM | Lunch, networking, demo showcase 1:10 – 1:50 PM | Panel 2: Robotics and Embodied Intelligence 1:50 – 2:00 PM | Break 2:00 – 2:40 PM | Panel 3: Agentic AI — From Production to Self Improved System 2:40 - 2:50 Break + Demo Spotlight 2:50 - 3:20 AI Pioneer Startup and Demo Showcase 3:20 - 4:00 PM | Panel 4: Raised & Acquired 4:00 - 4:15 PM | Closing takeaways and calls to action 4:15 –4:45 PM | Curated networking, demos and media interviews
This event is a part of #SFTechWeek—a week of events hosted by VCs, startups and organizations to bring together the tech ecosystem. Learn more at www.tech-week.com.
General Chairs: Jun Li, Chair @ Silicon Valley AI Pioneer Club Yi Zhang, Director, GenAI Center @UC Santa Cruz genai.ucsc.edu
Featured Panelists/Speakers: Cynthia Larive — UC Santa Cruz Chancellor
11:45 – 12:25 PM | Panel 1: Future of AI Computing: Chips and Infra.
Moderator: John Hu — Senior Director, Advanced Technology Group, NVIDIA Panelists: Hanrui Wang — SVP Applied AI@ Nebius, Co-Founder and CEO, Eigen AI Xu Zou — SVP, Palo Alto Networks Matthew Guthaus — Professor, UC Santa Cruz Hao Zhong — CEO, ScaleFlux June Yang — ex VP of Google Cloud, ex VP of VMWare
1:10 – 1:50 PM | Panel 2: Robotics and Embodied Intelligence Moderator: Xiaoliang Wei, Moissan Robotic Club, Advisor Turing, ex Meta VP Panelists: Tae Myung Huh — Professor, UC Santa Cruz Wei Xu - Chief Scientist, Horizon Robotics Vinesh Sukumar - VP of Product AI/GenAI , Qualcomm Zhe Zhang, Distinguished Engineer, Robotics, Nvidia Tam Le, CEO, Tbrain.ai Ding Zhao, Professor, CMU, CEO, Safeworld
2:00 – 2:40 PM | Panel 3: Agentic AI — From Production to Self Improved System Moderator: Ian Lane — Professor, UC Santa Cruz Panelists: Evgeniy Gabrilovich — VP of Applied Science, Microsoft Salman Avestimehr - Dean’s Professor, USC, Co-founder of Teamily AI Vijay Krishnan- Co-Founder, Turing Michael Bendersky- Director of Research, Databricks
3:20 - 4:00 PM | Panel 4: Raised & Acquired Moderator: Helen Li — Managing Director, Omnibay Panelist: Cliff Crosland — CEO of Scanner (backed by Sequoia Capital) Jiantao Jiao - Nvidia Director of AI & Distinguished Scientist, UC Berkeley Professor Jacques-Alexandre Gerber- Managing Partner at Axial Partners Charles Elkan — Venture Partner, Fellows Fund & Professor, UC San Diego Michael Jones - VP, Key Accounts and Partnerships , Samsung
Additional panelists to be announced.
