How can government help advance robotics and AI? A Q&A with 2026 California Gubernatorial Candidate Zoltan Istvan - Open Registration
- Date
- 2025-10-30
- Host
- Frontier Tower SF
About this event
Robotics and AI are moving from research labs into transportation, manufacturing, healthcare, defense, logistics, education, and everyday consumer products. As these technologies become more influential, government policy will play a major role in determining what gets built, how quickly it scales, and who benefits. This event offers a timely chance to hear directly from 2026 California gubernatorial candidate Zoltan Istvan on how public leadership can help advance robotics and AI. About the Event This is an in-person Q&A focused on one big question: how can government help accelerate progress in robotics, AI, and autonomy while serving the public interest? Rather than a generic campaign appearance, the event is centered on a specific and increasingly urgent topic at the intersection of technology, policy, and economic development. The conversation is designed for people who care about how regulation, infrastructure, education, procurement, public investment, and civic leadership shape emerging technologies. California plays an outsized role in AI and robotics, so a gubernatorial perspective matters not just to voters, but also to founders, engineers, operators, researchers, and community members who are building within this ecosystem. Expect a format that gives space for substance. A Q&A setting creates room to move beyond headlines and into practical questions: what should government fund, where should it step back, how should it support innovation, and how can policy keep pace with technical change? Because registration is open, this is also a useful entry point for people who may not usually attend policy events but want a clearer view of how political leadership could influence the future of robotics and AI in California. What to Expect The core of the event is a live discussion and Q&A with Zoltan Istvan, centered on policy ideas, priorities, and tradeoffs related to robotics and AI. You can expect a conversation grounded in real-world issues facing the field today, not just abstract speculation about the future. Topics may include: State support for robotics and AI innovation Regulatory approaches to autonomy and emerging technologies Workforce development, education, and talent pipelines Public sector adoption of AI and robotics California's role in shaping national and global technology leadership How communities, companies, and policymakers can work together Because this is an in-person event, attendees should also expect the value that comes from being in the room: the chance to hear nuance directly, gauge priorities in a live setting, and connect with others who are thinking seriously about the future of automation and intelligence. The audience is likely to include a mix of builders, technologists, investors, students, policy-curious attendees, and members of the broader robotics and AI community. That mix can make for sharper questions and a more grounded discussion than a purely political or purely technical gathering. Why Attend If you work in robotics or AI, policy is no longer a side topic. It affects market access, testing environments, labor dynamics, permitting, public trust, safety expectations, and the speed at which new technologies move from prototype to deployment. This event is an opportunity to better understand how a major state leader might approach those issues. If you follow California politics, this is a focused way to hear a candidate discuss something highly consequential but often discussed too vaguely. Instead of broad campaign language, the event centers on a concrete theme with direct relevance to industry, research, and civic life. You should attend if you want to: Understand how state government can enable or constrain robotics and AI Hear a candidate's thinking in a more detailed, question-driven format Ask sharper questions about regulation, innovation, and public benefit Meet others interested in the future of autonomy, robotics, and AI Get a more practical sense of how technology and governance intersect There is also value in simply being part of the conversation early. Decisions about AI and robotics policy are often shaped by whoever shows up, asks informed questions, and pushes for clarity. Events like this help create that public dialogue. Practical Details This event takes place in person on Thursday, October 30 at 4:00 PM PDT. If you prefer live discussion over online panels, this format gives you the benefit of direct engagement and a more focused room dynamic. Registration is open, making it accessible to anyone with a serious interest in the topic. If robotics, autonomy, AI, or public policy touches your work, studies, or long-term interests, this is a straightforward opportunity to hear from a statewide candidate in a setting built around questions rather than soundbites. A few useful notes: Format: In-person Q&A Theme: Government's role in advancing robotics and AI Audience: Open to the broader community Timing: Thursday, October 30 at 4:00 PM PDT Come prepared to listen critically, think practically, and engage with one of the defining policy questions around emerging technology: not whether robotics and AI will shape the future, but how government can help shape that future well.
Who should attend
This event is for people who want a more concrete view of how politics, public policy, and frontier technology meet in practice. - **You work in robotics, AI, or autonomy** and want to understand how state government could affect deployment, regulation, funding, talent, and long-term growth. - **You are a founder, operator, or investor** tracking the California technology landscape and want to hear how a gubernatorial candidate thinks about innovation, competitiveness, and public-sector support. - **You are an engineer, researcher, or technical professional** who wants more context on the policy environment surrounding the tools and systems you build. - **You are a student or early-career attendee** interested in where technology leadership, workforce development, and public decision-making are headed. - **You follow California politics or civic issues** and want a discussion focused on a real policy domain rather than broad campaign messaging. - **You value smart, in-person conversation** with a cross-section of the robotics and AI community and want to be in the room for a timely public dialogue.