Why robots haven't changed our daily lives yet

You've probably heard the buzz about robots for years, but you don't see them doing your laundry or cooking dinner at home. According to Les Karpas from Nvidia (a major computer chip company), there's a good reason why.

The robotics industry is still looking for what experts call a "ChatGPT moment." That's a reference to ChatGPT, the AI chatbot that exploded in popularity in late 2022 and suddenly made artificial intelligence feel real and useful to ordinary people. Before ChatGPT, AI existed, but it didn't feel like it mattered to everyday life. Robots today are in a similar situation—they exist in labs and factories, but haven't yet become something regular people interact with or rely on.

Karpas will be speaking at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, a major tech conference, to discuss what's missing. The question is simple but important: what will it take for robots to go from being experimental machines to becoming as common and helpful as smartphones? That breakthrough moment could change everything—from how we work to how we spend our free time. Right now, we're still waiting to find out.

If you're curious to hear more from industry experts like Karpas about where robotics is headed, you can register for the conference before September 25.