TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: Aaron Edsinger brings Hello Robot’s Stretch 4 to life onstage

Robots that walk, talk, dance, and perform backflips make great videos. But can they close the blinds? Help someone eat? Scratch an itch?

For people with severe mobility impairments, those everyday tasks can mean greater independence. And they’re exactly the kinds of jobs Hello Robot designed its home-assistance robot, Stretch, to tackle.

At TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 , Hello Robot CEO and co-founder Aaron Edsinger will bring Stretch 4 to the Real World AI Stage for the session “ Come, Meet Stretch. The Robot Built for Real Life, Not a Demo Reel .” The live demo takes physical AI out of the lab and puts it to work alongside people, showing what’s possible when usefulness, safety, and accessibility drive robot design.