Web Summit tackles AI regulation

2023 11 14T164048Z 24676137 RC23D4A91W26 RTRMADP 3 TECH WEBSUMMIT scaled
Kuo Zhang, President of Alibaba.com, speaks during the Web Summit, in Lisbon, Portugal, November 14, 2023. REUTERS/Pedro Nunes

As the momentum of artificial intelligence accelerates, so do efforts to catch up and regulate it. With countries striving to establish their own regulatory framework, potentially contributing to the increased fragmentation of the global digital market, experts gathered to hash it out at the Web Summit in Lisbon.

70,000 people descended upon Lisbon for Europe’s largest technology conference. At the repurposed Expo ’98 site, digital experts in varying sectors discussed ideas and the latest tech this week, with generative AI already stealing the show, across every field, from Adtech to MedTech.

The imperative to address the risks linked to AI, such as misinformation, employment challenges, bias, and other concerns, serves as motivation for the push toward regulation.

Attendance suffered setbacks with Meta, Google notably absent, and Web Summit founder, Paddy Cosgrave, having resigned following backlash from a social media post referring to “war crimes” in the Israel-Hamas war.

Web Summit 2024 will be held in Doha for the first time in February.

More from Qonversations

Business

China Australia lobsters

Lifting the ban: Will China accept Australian lobsters back into its markets?

Business

BP red

Is BP stepping away from its green commitments for good?

Business

Screenshot 2024 10 07 at 11.03.16 AM

Turning trash into treasure: Costa Rican women transform fish skins into sustainable fashion

Business

Screenshot 2024 10 04 at 11.53.48 AM

Oman Investment Authority pursues largest IPO to boost economic diversification

Front of mind