For nearly 20 years, the smartphone has been at the center of hardware and software development. But with AI moving from stand-alone apps to being interwoven in our go-to platforms, and then into the operating system of our devices, the shape of the next generation of hardware devices is still being developed.  

And Amazon SVP of Devices and Services, Panos Panay, is as close to that development as anyone can get. He will be speaking at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 to deliver exclusive insights about how he sees the evolution of hardware progressing.

Disrupt has long been a place where the incumbents share where they’re placing their bets, and what impacts and opportunities startups need to know about. Your chance to get a jump-start on the competition starts October 13-15 at San Francisco’s Moscone West. Before we dig into Panay and his upcoming talk, you should consider locking in today’s ticket pricing before our next tier goes live. Our discounts won’t last much longer!

Why Panay brings a unique perspective to Disrupt 2026 

Panay isn’t new to reinventing hardware categories under pressure. He spent more than 19 years at Microsoft, most notably working as their EVP and chief product officer, overseeing the development of a wide range of Surface devices, from to the original Surface Laptop from 2017 to the foldable Duo. While there, he also oversaw the development of Windows 11, in an overlap of software and hardware that’s becoming a mainstay in the AI era.

His departure from Microsoft was swiftly followed by the news he was joining Amazon, taking over from longtime consumer devices leader David Limp. Whereas Amazon had previously been very focused on the expansion of hardware through the home, Panay has been building around the generative AI revamp of Alexa, with the rollout of Alexa+ across several tiers of access in the U.S. earlier this year.

And at Disrupt, Panay will dive deeper into what’s coming up next for Amazon and Alexa+. As we potentially move into a world in which your daily routine doesn’t revolve around the phone in your hand, but on an assistant, a pair of glasses, or whatever form factor OpenAI is leaning into, the possibilities are endless! And that kind of future-forward thinking is available only at Disrupt.

Join us and hear Panay, and our many other excellent speakers, along with more than 10,000 founders, investors, and startup community members gathering in San Francisco. Remember to grab your ticket today, or dive deeper into our other Disrupt highlights as we get closer to the event.

Learn more about Disrupt 2026 

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A ladder just became the latest proving ground in the race to build humanoid robots that can move through the human world.

Figure CEO Brett Adcock released a video showing the company’s Figure 03 robot gripping and climbing a short ladder. Adcock described the demonstration as “fully autonomous,” although Figure has not published success rates or a technical breakdown of the run.

The slow, controlled climb offers another glimpse of what whole-body robotic autonomy could eventually enable — and how much testing remains before such machines can safely work in unpredictable environments.

According to Figure, the robot completed the task autonomously using its Helix AI system rather than relying on remote control or a scripted sequence. 

Ladder climbing is widely considered one of the tougher mobility challenges for humanoid robots because it requires continuous balance adjustments, precise coordination between the arms and legs, and accurate awareness of the surrounding environment.

The demonstration follows a recent update to Figure’s Helix System 0 AI model, which now combines visual perception with whole-body motion control.

Previously, the system depended on proprioception, allowing the robot to monitor its own body position and movement. The upgraded model adds input from onboard stereo cameras, enabling the robot to build a three-dimensional view of its surroundings while tracking its own posture in real time.

Figure said the AI was trained end-to-end with reinforcement learning in simulated environments featuring randomized terrain. The company says the system transfers those learned behaviors directly to physical robots without additional calibration, helping them navigate stairs, ladders, and uneven ground more effectively.

The company also recently said it has increased production of Figure 03 from one robot per day to one per hour and has delivered more than 350 units.

More than a viral robot video

The ladder demonstration comes as humanoid robotics companies face growing pressure to prove their machines can perform practical work beyond carefully staged demos.

Potential applications include factories, warehouses, construction sites, and maintenance jobs where workers regularly encounter stairs, ladders, and uneven surfaces. A robot that can safely move through those environments could take on a wider range of tasks than one limited to flat floors.

Still, the latest demonstration leaves important questions unanswered. Figure has not disclosed success rates, testing conditions, or how the robot performs under more demanding scenarios, such as carrying equipment or operating in poor weather.

The bigger picture

Figure’s latest video highlights how the focus of humanoid robotics is shifting from simply walking to navigating environments built for people. Mobility skills such as climbing, balancing, and adapting to changing terrain may ultimately matter more to commercial customers than eye-catching demonstrations alone.

For businesses evaluating humanoid robots, the milestone is encouraging but not conclusive. The real measure will be whether robots can repeat these tasks reliably, safely, and at scale in unpredictable workplaces where mistakes carry high operational and safety costs.

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared on our sister publication, eWeek.

The AI boom is creating an unexpected casualty: the gadgets in your pocket and on your desk.

Apple is reportedly scaling back planned hardware shipments for 2026 as a global memory shortage squeezes component supplies, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The shortage has already contributed to higher Mac and iPad prices, and Kuo’s latest reporting on Apple’s production plans suggests users could soon face tighter supplies as new iPhones approach.

The problem is bigger than Apple. Memory manufacturers are increasingly prioritizing lucrative chips for AI data centers, putting consumer electronics in competition with the infrastructure powering the generative AI boom. For Apple customers, the cost of that expansion may increasingly show up at the Apple Store.

Apple is reportedly planning around the memory shortage

Kuo’s comments came in response to a report claiming TSMC had approximately $1 billion worth of unfinished processors awaiting memory components Apple had been unable to secure.

Kuo disputed that scenario while agreeing that memory supply is constraining Apple.

According to his account, Apple plans processor production at least three months ahead based partly on expected memory availability. Rather than manufacturing huge quantities of processors it cannot use, Apple may be adjusting overall hardware production to match the components it expects to have.

For consumers, that distinction matters. Reduced production could mean fewer devices reaching stores, particularly during major product launches. Apple has not confirmed Kuo’s claims, however, and the exact size of any shipment reductions remains unclear.

AI data centers are competing with consumer devices for memory

AI infrastructure requires enormous quantities of memory, particularly high-bandwidth memory used alongside AI accelerators. Manufacturers have strong financial incentives to dedicate more production capacity to those products, leaving less available for the memory used in phones and PCs.

In its analysis of how the global memory shortage could affect smartphones and PCs, IDC described a broader restructuring of the memory market as hyperscalers such as Microsoft, Google, Meta, and Amazon drive demand.

The effects are already spreading through the smartphone industry.

IDC now forecasts worldwide smartphone shipments will fall 13.9% year over year in 2026 to 1.09 billion units. It also expects average selling prices to reach a record $550 as manufacturers respond to rising costs by cutting production, raising prices, and emphasizing premium devices.

Apple’s enormous supply chain gives it leverage, but not immunity.

Mac and iPad buyers are already paying more

Apple users don’t have to wait until the next iPhone launch to see the consequences.

The company raised prices across Macs, iPads, Apple TV, HomePod, and Vision Pro products in June, citing rising memory and storage costs.

According to a breakdown of Apple’s June price increases, the MacBook Air’s starting price climbed from $1,099 to $1,299, while the MacBook Pro increased from $1,699 to $1,999. The entry-level iPad rose from $349 to $449, and the iPad Pro jumped from $999 to $1,199.

Apple CEO Tim Cook had previously warned that the company could no longer absorb all of the higher component costs. When Apple explained why it was raising hardware prices, the company said it needed to “begin” increasing prices on some products while searching for solutions to the shortage.

So far, the iPhone has largely escaped those increases.

September could test whether that continues.

The iPhone 18 launch could reveal how serious the shortage is

The latest report on Apple’s planned shipment cuts indicates the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and Apple’s expected foldable iPhone could face limited availability because of memory constraints. MacRumors expects those models could sell out during preorders, although Apple has not confirmed supply levels.

Pricing is another uncertainty. Apple has already passed higher component costs to Mac and iPad buyers, making the next iPhone launch worth watching closely. But Apple has not announced pricing, and the memory shortage does not guarantee an iPhone price increase.

For buyers determined to get a specific premium model, storage capacity, or color at launch, tighter supplies could make preordering early more important than usual.

Everyone else has more room to wait.

What Apple users should do

Prospective iPhone buyers shouldn’t panic-buy an existing model solely because of Kuo’s report.

Apple hasn’t confirmed next-generation pricing or shortages. The reporting is better viewed as an early warning that supply could be tighter than usual. Buyers who don’t need the latest model can also compare older devices, trade-in offers, carrier promotions, and refurbished products if new hardware becomes more expensive.

Apple may also be better positioned than some competitors. IDC’s latest smartphone market data showed Apple’s shipments increased 4.4% year over year in the first quarter of 2026 even as the overall market declined 2.9%.

That doesn’t mean Apple users will escape the memory crisis. It means Apple may have more tools to manage it.

The AI boom is reaching the Apple Store

The AI race is usually discussed in terms of smarter software, faster models, and massive data centers. The memory shortage exposes another consequence. Those data centers are competing for physical components also needed to build everyday electronics.

For Apple users, that competition can eventually become a more expensive MacBook, a pricier iPad, or an iPhone configuration that’s harder to find on launch day.

September’s iPhone launch may provide the clearest indication yet of whether those pressures are becoming the new normal or another supply-chain problem Apple can eventually outrun.

Related reading: With hardware costs under pressure, Apple buyers weighing their next upgrade can also explore how Apple’s new leasing program changes the cost of getting an iPhone, Mac, or iPad.