Nader Khalil, Director of Developer Tech, and Sydney Sykes, Global Head of VC Partnerships, both from Nvidia, are set to lead a discussion on the strategic choices facing AI startups at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. The session, titled "The Open vs. Closed AI Debate Is Just Getting Started," will explore the business implications of building AI products using either proprietary frontier models or open models.
The event, taking place on the Builders Stage, will address how decisions regarding AI models can impact aspects such as cost, infrastructure, margins, and competitive differentiation for companies. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang previously stated at GTC that the future involves both proprietary and open AI approaches.
Khalil, who previously co-founded Brev.dev, an AI infrastructure company acquired by Nvidia in July 2024, will offer insights from a builder and infrastructure perspective. Sykes will contribute the venture ecosystem's viewpoint, examining what companies need to become investable and scalable businesses. TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is scheduled for October 13-15 in San Francisco.