As Web Summit kicked off its first full day in Lisbon, the tech conference aimed to move beyond the controversy sparked by its former CEO, Paddy Cosgrave.
The initial day of the conference, extending until Thursday, featured tech leaders such as Alibaba’s president Kuo Zhang and Signal’s Meredith Whittaker gracing the main stage. However, the impact of Paddy Cosgrave's social media comments regarding Israel’s military action in Gaza was evident in the absence of several expected participants.
While more than 70,000 individuals are registered for Web Summit, including over 900 investors and 2,600 start-ups, the event faced withdrawals from notable partners, including Google and Amazon Web Services. Intel and Siemens also announced their non-participation. Additionally, several scheduled speakers, some slated for the main stage, opted out.
Despite the setbacks, Web Summit highlighted positive aspects, pointing out the increased female participation – 43% compared to last year's 42%, with 38% of this year’s speakers being women. Over one-third of the start-ups featured were founded by women. Attendees, for the most part, expressed their commitment to the event.
The newly appointed CEO, Katherine Maher, addressed the controversy during her opening remarks, affirming the event's role as a platform for challenging discussions. She emphasized the importance of free expression and called on attendees to consider their role in shaping a safer and better world through technology.
The first day of Web Summit prominently featured discussions on artificial intelligence (AI). MIT’s Andrew McAfee led a talk on the future regulation of AI, highlighting concerns and the need for ethical frameworks. Themes such as AI's potential to level the work playing field, technology's impact on stealing time, and the future of multilingual communication through AI wearables were explored on the main stage.
Despite the challenges, Web Summit maintained an optimistic tone, reinforcing its position as the birthplace of the future. Football personalities, including ex-Manchester United player Patrice Evra and former Chelsea manager André Villas-Boas, contributed to the diverse discussions on various products and personal projects.
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The initial day of the conference, extending until Thursday, featured tech leaders such as Alibaba’s president Kuo Zhang and Signal’s Meredith Whittaker gracing the main stage. However, the impact of Paddy Cosgrave's social media comments regarding Israel’s military action in Gaza was evident in the absence of several expected participants.
While more than 70,000 individuals are registered for Web Summit, including over 900 investors and 2,600 start-ups, the event faced withdrawals from notable partners, including Google and Amazon Web Services. Intel and Siemens also announced their non-participation. Additionally, several scheduled speakers, some slated for the main stage, opted out.
Despite the setbacks, Web Summit highlighted positive aspects, pointing out the increased female participation – 43% compared to last year's 42%, with 38% of this year’s speakers being women. Over one-third of the start-ups featured were founded by women. Attendees, for the most part, expressed their commitment to the event.
The newly appointed CEO, Katherine Maher, addressed the controversy during her opening remarks, affirming the event's role as a platform for challenging discussions. She emphasized the importance of free expression and called on attendees to consider their role in shaping a safer and better world through technology.
The first day of Web Summit prominently featured discussions on artificial intelligence (AI). MIT’s Andrew McAfee led a talk on the future regulation of AI, highlighting concerns and the need for ethical frameworks. Themes such as AI's potential to level the work playing field, technology's impact on stealing time, and the future of multilingual communication through AI wearables were explored on the main stage.
Despite the challenges, Web Summit maintained an optimistic tone, reinforcing its position as the birthplace of the future. Football personalities, including ex-Manchester United player Patrice Evra and former Chelsea manager André Villas-Boas, contributed to the diverse discussions on various products and personal projects.
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