Amazon's Panos Panay to Discuss Future of Hardware at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026

Panay has a history of innovating in hardware categories under pressure, having spent over 19 years at Microsoft. There, he served as EVP and chief product officer, overseeing the development of the Surface line of devices and Windows 11, bridging software and hardware in ways that are becoming standard in the AI era.

Following his departure from Microsoft, Panay joined Amazon, taking over from David Limp. While Amazon's previous focus was on expanding hardware within the home, Panay has been instrumental in revamping Alexa with generative AI, leading to the rollout of Alexa+ in the U.S. earlier this year.

At Disrupt, Panay is expected to elaborate on future developments for Amazon and Alexa+, exploring a potential shift away from smartphone-centric daily routines towards AI assistants, smart glasses, or other emerging form factors. The conference, taking place from October 13-15 at San Francisco's Moscone West, aims to provide founders and the startup community with insights from industry leaders.