As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into everyday technology, questions are mounting about what device will eventually replace the smartphone as the center of our digital lives. At the upcoming TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 conference, Amazon’s senior vice president of Devices and Services, Panos Panay, will share his perspective on this pivotal transition and reveal Amazon’s strategic direction for the post-smartphone era.
Panay brings substantial credibility to this discussion, having spent nearly two decades at Microsoft where he held executive roles overseeing product development across multiple categories. His tenure included leadership on the original Surface Laptop, the experimental Surface Duo foldable device, and Windows 11, giving him deep experience navigating the intersection of hardware and software innovation during technological shifts.
Since joining Amazon, Panay has been instrumental in reshaping the company’s consumer devices strategy around artificial intelligence. His recent work includes spearheading the rollout of Alexa+, Amazon’s generative AI-powered virtual assistant across multiple service tiers. At Disrupt 2026, he is expected to elaborate on how this technology platform and others will shape the next generation of consumer hardware.
The conference will take place October 13-15 in San Francisco and will attract thousands of entrepreneurs, investors, and technology professionals eager to understand emerging industry trends and identify investment opportunities.
Originally reported by Techcrunch →
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