Thomas Middleditch, widely known for his leading role in HBO’s hit series Silicon Valley, made an unexpected appearance on Tuesday at the TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 conference. The actor, who played Richard Hendricks in the tech-focused comedy series, drew attention while making a special guest takeover during the pitch session of Australian startup Othelia, one of the Battlefield 200 competitors.

The surprise appearance took place on the Pitch Showcase Stage, where Middleditch joined Othelia to present its creative technology concept. Othelia is currently developing an AI-powered platform designed to assist storytellers in generating narrative ideas and character development—drawing comparisons to existing tools like Cursor, but tailored specifically for creative writing and storycraft.

Throughout the event, Middleditch was seen interacting with attendees, taking photos, and engaging in brief conversations with participants in the Expo Hall. He also shared insights regarding his experience at the conference and his perspective on the rising influence of artificial intelligence within the creative industry. According to him, AI has become a meaningful part of his work, particularly in producing content for his YouTube series Improv With Robots, where he explores improvisational performance alongside AI systems.

The crowd’s reception highlighted both nostalgia from fans of Silicon Valley and interest in how emerging technologies continue to merge with entertainment. Othelia’s moment at the conference gained increased visibility from Middleditch’s involvement, drawing additional attention to the role AI may play in shaping storytelling in the years ahead.

Source: Techcrunch