The Web Summit, one of the largest tech gatherings globally, commenced Tuesday in Lisbon amidst discussions about the impact of Donald Trump’s re-election on the tech industry and innovation landscape.
This year’s summit has drawn 70,000 participants, including over 3,000 startups and 1,000 investors, with a key focus on potential changes in U.S. technology policy and international relations. Industry watchers are particularly attentive to the anticipated influence of SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk on the new administration.
During Trump’s previous term, the tech sector clashed with his administration over immigration restrictions and heightened trade tensions with China. Now, with Trump set to take office again in January, tech leaders are bracing for fresh challenges, especially with growing urgency around global AI and tech regulations.
The summit, which kicked off Monday, began with an opening session led by singer Pharrell Williams. Notably, major companies like Meta and Google have returned to the event after last year’s controversy when some firms withdrew following remarks from Web Summit CEO Paddy Cosgrave, who accused Israel of war crimes in Gaza. Cosgrave, who had temporarily stepped down, resumed his role but avoided addressing the incident, focusing instead on celebrating startups.
This year, Microsoft President Brad Smith will present on Microsoft’s AI strategy, reflecting the summit’s heavy focus on AI and its societal impacts. Cosgrave highlighted the event as one of the “world’s biggest AI gatherings,” with multiple sessions exploring the transformative potential of AI.
On Monday, Max Tegmark, president of the Future of Life Institute and a known AI critic, voiced concern about the dangers of advanced artificial general intelligence (AGI), urging governments to enforce strong regulations. Tegmark warned that unchecked AGI progress could lead humanity down a perilous path, describing it as a possible “suicide race” rather than simply an international competition.
As the summit proceeds through Thursday, participants will continue to explore how Trump’s re-election might shape the future of technology, addressing issues like AI, big tech regulation, and global innovation.