Not long ago, bringing extinct species back to life was the stuff of science fiction. Today, it’s the mission of a high-profile startup backed by significant investment. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI), genetics, and computational biology are opening new frontiers in conservation research, sparking debates that extend far beyond the lab. If technology can help revive extinct species, should it? And what role should AI play in shaping the future of biodiversity? These are the central questions of “Can We Engineer Nature’s Comeback?” a fireside chat at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. The discussion will feature Ben Lamm, Co-Founder and CEO of Colossal Biosciences, a company using synthetic biology and AI to explore the possibility of reviving extinct species. The conversation will go beyond the science, exploring the technologies behind de-extinction, the role AI now plays in modern biology, and the growing debate over whether engineering nature is a conservation breakthrough or a distraction from protecting the ecosystems we already have. Disrupt, returning to Moscone West in San Francisco from October 13–15, will bring together over 10,000 founders, investors, and operators for more than 250 sessions on the technologies and market forces shaping the future. This session promises to be one of the most thought-provoking conversations of the event. AI is already transforming fields like software, robotics, and scientific research. Now, it is increasingly being applied to biology, helping researchers analyze genetic data, model complex biological systems, and accelerate discovery. Companies like Colossal are taking these advances further, using AI alongside synthetic biology to tackle questions that were once considered science fiction. This session will explore the intersection of AI and biology, examining what happens when AI moves beyond digital systems and into the natural world. For founders working at the intersection of deep tech, life sciences, and AI, it offers a rare opportunity to hear how one of the most ambitious companies in the industry is tackling problems few have attempted to solve. Ben Lamm has spent over two decades building companies at the intersection of AI and emerging technologies. A serial entrepreneur, he has founded businesses focused on enterprise AI, critical infrastructure, and conversational intelligence. Before launching Colossal Biosciences, he built and sold several pioneering technology companies. Today, he is applying that same entrepreneurial mindset to a different challenge: using AI and synthetic biology to explore de-extinction as a conservation tool. His work has made Colossal one of the most watched—and debated—companies in science and technology. As CEO, Lamm is at the center of discussions about biodiversity, climate resilience, and the responsibilities that come with engineering living systems. The conversation at Disrupt 2026 will be more than just about reviving extinct species—it will address broader questions about the role of emerging technologies in solving complex global challenges. As AI becomes part of scientific discovery, the conversation around technology is expanding into medicine, biology, conservation, and climate science. These advances bring new possibilities but also raise difficult questions about how and where these tools should be used. Whether you see de-extinction as a breakthrough, a strategy, or a controversial experiment, the discussion will explore what role emerging technologies should play in shaping the future and who gets to decide.