Key facts
- AI agents can now handle multistep tasks in engineering, customer support, and operations.
- Founders must decide which responsibilities are too critical to delegate to AI.
- Gusto CEO Josh Reeves, Insight Partners SVP Michelle Johnson, and Leland CEO John Koelliker will discuss AI integration at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026.
- The session 'Hiring When AI Is a Co-Founder' will explore human-AI team dynamics.
At TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, industry leaders will convene to discuss the evolving landscape of startup team building, where AI agents are increasingly becoming integral to operations. The session, titled 'Hiring When AI Is a Co-Founder,' will feature Josh Reeves, CEO and co-founder of Gusto; Michelle Johnson, senior vice president at Insight Partners; and John Koelliker, CEO and co-founder of Leland.
As AI agents become capable of handling complex tasks in engineering, customer support, research, and operations, founders face a critical decision: determining the optimal balance between human employees and AI delegation. This shift prompts a reevaluation of traditional hiring processes, moving from 'Who do we hire next?' to 'What work needs to be done, and is a person the best fit for it?'
Key considerations for founders include establishing clear lines of ownership, ensuring accountability, and maintaining company culture when AI agents are involved. Questions around who verifies AI-generated work, who makes final decisions, and which responsibilities are too crucial to delegate will be addressed.
Reeves brings insights from Gusto's extensive customer base, highlighting the day-to-day realities of small businesses growing their teams. Johnson offers a perspective on scaling startups, focusing on go-to-market strategy and AI implementation, and how AI's role in sales processes might reshape hiring priorities. Koelliker, from Leland, a talent platform for the AI era, provides expertise at the intersection of human skills and AI capabilities.
The event, taking place at Moscone West in San Francisco from October 13-15, will bring together over 10,000 startups, investors, and tech decision-makers. Early registration by September 25 at 11:59 p.m. PT offers savings of up to $200 on passes, with additional discounts for group registrations.