Open Robotics will discuss the open-source robotics ecosystem and AI at the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo. Source: Open Robotics
Developments in artificial intelligence and robotics are converging and accelerating, making open source more critical than ever, according to Open Robotics. The organization, which maintains the Robot Operating System and the Gazebo simulator, will explore how the technology ecosystem is evolving to meet the demands of the AI era at the Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston next week.
In the keynote on “An Open Foundation for the Age of AI-Powered Robots,” the company plans to discuss how open-source technology is driving innovation broadly in automation and physical AI while fostering a robust, collaborative community.
Brian Gerkey, co-founder and former CEO of Open Robotics, will highlight the strategic vision of the Open Source Robotics Alliance (OSRA). He will focus on expanding accessibility, integrating modern tools, and tackling the essential challenges of safety and security.
Summit attendees can discover how Open Robotics is empowering the next generation of developers and gain insights into its roadmap for even broader industry adoption. The organization invites roboticists to join it to build the open foundation for the age of AI-powered robotics.
Gerkey’s session will be at 9:00 a.m. ET on Wednesday, May 28, in Room 253 ABC of the Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center.
Brian Gerkey, CTO, Intrinsic
About open-source expert Brian Gerkey
Brian Gerkey is now chief technology officer at Intrinsic, where he is helping to democratize access to robotics. He is a board member of the Open Source Robotics Foundation (OSRF).
Gerkey has also worked at Willow Garage, SRI International, Stanford University, and the University of Southern California. He is a strong believer in, frequent contributor to, and constant beneficiary of open-source technology.
Note that Gerkey’s session replaces a previously announced keynote with Russ Tedrake, an MIT professor, former senior vice president of large behavior models at the Toyota Research Institute, and AI startup founder.
Register now for the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo
Registration is available for the Robotics Summit & Expo, the world’s leading technical event for commercial robotics developers. The event is produced by The Robot Report and parent company WTWH Media.
The show will have more than 50 sessions in tracks on artificial intelligence, design and development, enabling technologies, healthcare, and logistics. The Engineering Theater on the show floor will also feature presentations by industry experts.
More than 70 speakers are confirmed from companies such as Amazon Robotics, AWS, Brain Corp, Fictiv, Harmonic Drive, maxon, PickNik Robotics, QNX, RealSense, the Robotics and AI Institute, Robust AI, Tesla, Universal Robots, and more.
The Robotics Summit will also feature a number of networking opportunities. These include a Mix & Mingle Networking Reception after the first day of the show, the ticketed RBR50 Awards Dinner, and a Women in Robotics Breakfast.
The Robotics Summit & Expo is co-located with DeviceTalks Boston, which focuses on medical devices.
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