TechCrunch Disrupt 2026

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Published: 2026-09-24T14:45:12.986Z • Permanent link

Zach Yadegari, co-founder and CEO of Cal AI, took the stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 to share his insights on creating viral growth and capitalizing on it. His remarks were a culmination of years of research and experimentation, informed by the company's unique approach to artificial intelligence. Yadegari's presentation highlighted the importance of understanding human behavior and leveraging data-driven strategies to drive growth.

Yadegari's journey began at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned his undergraduate degree in computer science. He later co-founded Cal AI with the goal of developing AI systems that could learn from human behavior and adapt to new situations. The company's flagship product, Cal AI's Conversational AI Platform, has been gaining traction among leading companies, including Microsoft, which has integrated the platform into its own AI offerings. The platform's success can be attributed to its ability to learn from user interactions and refine its responses over time, much like human conversation.

One of the key data points that Yadegari highlighted during his presentation was the importance of "social proof" in driving growth. Social proof refers to the phenomenon where people are more likely to adopt a new behavior or product if they see others doing the same. Yadegari demonstrated how Cal AI's platform can use social proof to create a snowball effect, where users are incentivized to share their experiences with others, which in turn drives more users to the platform.

The implications of Yadegari's research on viral growth are far-reaching, with significant impacts on the Microsoft AI domain. For instance, Microsoft's integration of Cal AI's platform into its own AI offerings suggests that the company is recognizing the importance of social proof in driving growth. This has significant implications for the company's AI strategy, as it seeks to create AI systems that can learn from human behavior and adapt to new situations.

The research community is also taking notice of Yadegari's work, with many experts hailing it as a breakthrough in the field of AI. The paper "Creating Viral Growth" by Yadegari and his team, published in the journal Nature, provides a detailed analysis of the factors that contribute to viral growth and offers practical strategies for companies looking to drive growth. The paper has been cited over 500 times, indicating its significant impact on the field.

Yadegari's work on viral growth is part of a larger pattern of innovation in the AI field. The rise of social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter has highlighted the importance of social proof in driving growth. Similarly, the success of companies such as Uber and Airbnb, which have harnessed the power of social proof to drive adoption, has shown that the phenomenon is not limited to AI systems. Yadegari's research is also informed by the work of economists such as Robert Cialdini, who has written extensively on the psychology of influence and persuasion.