5 key topics from Web Summit 2024
Lisbon was once again the global hub of technological innovation during the Web Summit 2024. This year’s event registered more than 70,000 attendees with 3,000 companies from 160 countries. Including, as always, a varied list of speakers, from singer Pharrell Williams and screenwriter Steven Knight, creator of the Peaky Blinders series, to Microsoft CEO Brad Smith and Kuo Zhang, President of Alibaba.com, as well as the Secretary General of Amnesty International, Agnès Callamard, this edition was marked by the return of the event’s Co-Founder Paddy Cosgrave, not present last year following his comments on the war in Gaza. Topics including artificial intelligence, robotics, sustainability, fintech and social networks were the main protagonists at the Summit.
Artificial Intelligence: beyond ChatGPT
Artificial Intelligence dominated the conference programme at Web Summit 2024. Sub-topics ranged from its environmental and social impact to its potential to transform all sectors, including public relations. While the founder of creative platform Picsart praised its ability to democratise creativity.
One example of this transformative potential is WoodChat – a tool that uses AI to combat the import of illegal timber. Another example of how AI makes our lives easier is Tryp, a Portuguese startup that uses AI to offer flight and transport packages at the most competitive price, creating routes based on demand and ticket costs.
Robotics: robots for work and education
The robotics sector was also the focus of debate at Web Summit 2024, where a cocktail-making robot was seen in action. One of the most striking innovations is Digit, a biped created by Agility Robotics with two mechanical arms and metal hooks as hands. Despite its sci-fi appearance, it is designed to work in industrial environments under the ‘robots-as-a-service’ (RaaS) model.
According to spokespeople in the sector, the idea is not to replace humans, but for robots to take on the most labour-intensive and dangerous tasks. With more modest ambitions, Stella has been unveiled, a 3D printed robot designed as a self-assembly kit that is intended to serve as an educational tool.
Sustainability: Technology at the service of the planet
In parallel to the COP29 Climate Summit in Baku, many participants in the Web Summit unveiled sustainability-related initiatives. One of the most prominent projects in this regard is Twelve, which seeks to reduce carbon emissions in aviation through carbon capture technology.
Bolt, the European mobility app, proposes to reduce the use of private vehicles in cities by promoting VTC, taxi and VMP transport services. The event also hosted African Women in Tech (AWiT), a forum in which African women entrepreneurs showcase their proposals for technology-supported development.
Fintech: Everyone’s finances, for Everyone
While the world of cryptocurrencies is buzzing about Donald Trump’s promise to relax their regulation, the fintech sector is committed to continuing to democratise access to financial services. As a result, it is promoting innovations such as embedded finance technology, which allows companies to offer financial services without the need to be banks.
Another novelty in this regard is the Hyperchains solution, with which users can create their own personalised blockchain networks without advanced technical knowledge. And, as seen at Web Summit 2024, the most popular payment method in e-commerce in 2025 will be BNPL (buy now, pay later).
Social media: credibility and responsibility
In light of the decision of newspapers such as The Guardian and La Vanguardia to abandon the controversial platform X, a decision that we have also taken at Canela, much was said about the responsibility of social networks in the dissemination of fake news and hate content. In a year marked by elections and political crises in several countries, experts stressed the importance of developing tools to combat disinformation and moderate content.
One option is the independent Oversight Board created by Meta, owner of Facebook and Instagram, whose functioning has been detailed in one of the panels of Web Submit 2024. Another possibility is initiatives such as Striver, the hate-free social network for sports fans launched by former Brazilian footballer Gilberto Silva.
Which of these trends do you find most interesting? Share your thoughts with us on LinkedIn and Instagram!
Catarina Oliveira, Director of Canela Portugal
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