By AFP
November 11, 2025
This year's Web Summit spotlights a kaleidoscope of startups from around the world - Copyright GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP Tom Brenner
Daxia ROJAS and Tom Barfield
Global tech leaders will pack Lisbon’s annual Web Summit from Tuesday to talk Artificial Intelligence, robots and startups — all under the shadow of tensions over cutting-edge tech and the natural resources needed to build it.
Over four days, the “Davos for geeks” is set to welcome over 70,000 visitors including 2,500 startups and 1,000 investors, according to organisers.
Tech leaders gathered at Monday’s opening night, starring Swedish startup founder Anton Osika, whose Lovable software company is touted as the fastest growing in history.
The audience also cheered TikTok star Khaby Lame, tennis great Maria Sharapova and an Olympics-style parade of tech founders bearing their nations’ flags.
Here are some of the key themes at the show:
– Shifting sands –
“This year, more than any year before, it’s clear that the era of Western tech dominance is fading,” Web Summit founder Paddy Cosgrave said Monday.
He cited Chinese manufacturers leading in fields like AI and humanoid robots, as well as Brazilian digital payments service PIX and a record number of Polish startups, as evidence of a more multipolar tech world.
Beyond the glossy tech products, global tensions over hi-tech trade, competition and sovereignty will weigh on discussions.
– Robots and autonomous cars –
The “most advanced humanoid robots in the world” on display are “not European, they’re not American. Instead, they are Chinese,” Cosgrave said.
Nevertheless, US speakers will include Amazon Robotics boss Tye Brady and Robert Playter of Boston Dynamics.
Uber president Andrew Macdonald and rival Lyft’s chief David Risher will talk up schemes to fill the streets with robotaxis.
Uber has partnered with Nvidia to upgrade tens of thousands of vehicles with automation tech from 2027.
Waymo, a subsidiary of Google parent company Alphabet, has said its driverless vehicles will arrive in London next year. And several Chinese manufacturers including Baidu and Pony.ai have Europe in their sights for an automated car rollout.
– AI and chips –
The struggle for dominance may be fiercest in generative artificial intelligence, spotlighting Tuesday’s planned appearance by Cristiano Amon, boss of American chip developer Qualcomm.
His company has announced AI chips squaring up to sector heavyweight Nvidia and challenger AMD. The rival high-end processors are subject to US export restrictions on national security grounds.
Several leaders of other top AI firms will also appear, including Microsoft president Brad Smith.
Osika’s Lovable is one of several firms allowing users to create apps and websites via a chatbot without coding experience. “We’re seeing 100,000 new products built on Lovable every single day,” he said.
British dictionary publisher Collins dubbed this “vibe coding” approach its word of the year for 2025.
– Health and sports –
Almost 30 percent of investment in new sports technology went into AI firms in the first half of this year, investment bank Drake Star said in a study.
On stage, Sharapova praised AI tools’ value to sports — from preparing athletes for competition to speeding up recovery time or stoking fans’ engagement.
And wearables, such as watches and rings able to monitor sleep, heart rate or body temperature, mean that tech’s ability to detect initial signs of illness will be another hot topic.
– Tech sovereignty –
Brussels will send Henna Virkkunen, the European Commission’s digital chief, as the 27-nation EU is increasingly fearful for its technological sovereignty amid rising trade and political tensions.
“We’re more and more dependent, especially on the American hyperscalers” or major data centre operators, said Maya Noel, director general of the France Digitale network of tech companies and investment firms, who will urge European alternatives.
As the Commission pressures American and Chinese platforms to tighten measures for underage internet users, American games publisher Roblox — whose game is popular with minors — will outline how it plans to verify players’ ages.
Global tech tensions overshadow Web Summit’s AI and robots
By AFP
November 10, 2025
AI will be taking centre stage at this year's Web Summit as major global players are racing to control the supply chain for chips needed to drive generative artificial intelligence - Copyright AFP ANTHONY WALLACE
Daxia ROJAS
Flashy AI, robotics and self-driving cars will be on show at the annual Web Summit in Lisbon from Monday, but global tensions over high-tech trade, competition and sovereignty will be weighing on the minds of entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers.
Known as the “Davos for geeks,” the four-day event in the Portuguese capital is set to welcome over 70,000 visitors, including 2,500 startups and 1,000 investors.
– AI and chips –
With major global players racing to control the supply chains behind generative artificial intelligence, an appearance by chief executive of American chip developer Qualcomm Cristiano Amon will be a hot ticket.
His company recently announced a new range of AI chips designed to compete with sector heavyweight Nvidia and challenger AMD.
Both firms’ high-end processors are subject to restrictions from Washington on their export to China on national security grounds.
Several leaders of other top AI players will also appear in Lisbon, including Microsoft President Brad Smith and Joleen Liang, co-founder of Chinese startup Squirrel AI, which is bringing the technology into classrooms.
One of Europe’s hottest tickets, Swedish startup Lovable, is sending boss Anton Osika to vaunt its technology that allows users to create apps and websites via a chatbot without coding experience.
British dictionary publisher Collins dubbed this “vibe coding” approach its word of the year for 2025.
– Health and sports –
Almost 30 percent of investment in new sports technology went into AI firms in the first half of this year, investment bank Drake Star found in a study.
In Lisbon, Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova and France’s Caroline Garcia will be on stage talking about how AI can improve athletes’ performance in their discipline.
Increasingly capable devices ranging from watches and rings able to monitor sleep, heart rate or body temperature mean that tech’s ability to detect initial signs of illness will be another hot topic.
– Robots and autonomous cars –
American robotics chiefs in Lisbon will include Amazon Robotics boss Tye Brady and Robert Playter, head of the Boston Dynamics company known from viral videos of its dog-like quadrupeds.
Uber president Andrew Macdonald and Lyft’s chief David Risher will for their part talk up schemes to fill the world’s streets with robotaxis.
Fired in part by the generative AI surge, competition is heating up to dominate automated driving.
Uber has signed a partnership with chip developer Nvidia to upgrade tens of thousands of cars from different manufacturers with automation tech from 2027.
Waymo, a subsidiary of Google parent company Alphabet, has said its driverless vehicles will arrive in London from next year.
And several Chinese manufacturers including Baidu and Pony.ai have Europe in their sights for an automated car rollout.
– Tech sovereignty –
Brussels will make its presence felt at Web Summit by the presence of Henna Virkkunen, the European Commission’s digital chief.
The 27-nation EU is increasingly fearful for its technological sovereignty as transatlantic trade and political tensions mount.
“We’re more and more dependent, especially from the American hyperscalers” or major data centre operators, said Maya Noel, director general of the France Digitale network of tech companies and investment firms.
She will tell attendees that European options are needed if the continent is to remain in control of its economy.
As the Commission pressures American and Chinese platforms to tighten protections for underage internet users, American games publisher Roblox — whose eponymous game is vastly popular with minors — will outline how it plans to verify players’ ages.
By AFP
November 10, 2025
AI will be taking centre stage at this year's Web Summit as major global players are racing to control the supply chain for chips needed to drive generative artificial intelligence - Copyright AFP ANTHONY WALLACE
Daxia ROJAS
Flashy AI, robotics and self-driving cars will be on show at the annual Web Summit in Lisbon from Monday, but global tensions over high-tech trade, competition and sovereignty will be weighing on the minds of entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers.
Known as the “Davos for geeks,” the four-day event in the Portuguese capital is set to welcome over 70,000 visitors, including 2,500 startups and 1,000 investors.
– AI and chips –
With major global players racing to control the supply chains behind generative artificial intelligence, an appearance by chief executive of American chip developer Qualcomm Cristiano Amon will be a hot ticket.
His company recently announced a new range of AI chips designed to compete with sector heavyweight Nvidia and challenger AMD.
Both firms’ high-end processors are subject to restrictions from Washington on their export to China on national security grounds.
Several leaders of other top AI players will also appear in Lisbon, including Microsoft President Brad Smith and Joleen Liang, co-founder of Chinese startup Squirrel AI, which is bringing the technology into classrooms.
One of Europe’s hottest tickets, Swedish startup Lovable, is sending boss Anton Osika to vaunt its technology that allows users to create apps and websites via a chatbot without coding experience.
British dictionary publisher Collins dubbed this “vibe coding” approach its word of the year for 2025.
– Health and sports –
Almost 30 percent of investment in new sports technology went into AI firms in the first half of this year, investment bank Drake Star found in a study.
In Lisbon, Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova and France’s Caroline Garcia will be on stage talking about how AI can improve athletes’ performance in their discipline.
Increasingly capable devices ranging from watches and rings able to monitor sleep, heart rate or body temperature mean that tech’s ability to detect initial signs of illness will be another hot topic.
– Robots and autonomous cars –
American robotics chiefs in Lisbon will include Amazon Robotics boss Tye Brady and Robert Playter, head of the Boston Dynamics company known from viral videos of its dog-like quadrupeds.
Uber president Andrew Macdonald and Lyft’s chief David Risher will for their part talk up schemes to fill the world’s streets with robotaxis.
Fired in part by the generative AI surge, competition is heating up to dominate automated driving.
Uber has signed a partnership with chip developer Nvidia to upgrade tens of thousands of cars from different manufacturers with automation tech from 2027.
Waymo, a subsidiary of Google parent company Alphabet, has said its driverless vehicles will arrive in London from next year.
And several Chinese manufacturers including Baidu and Pony.ai have Europe in their sights for an automated car rollout.
– Tech sovereignty –
Brussels will make its presence felt at Web Summit by the presence of Henna Virkkunen, the European Commission’s digital chief.
The 27-nation EU is increasingly fearful for its technological sovereignty as transatlantic trade and political tensions mount.
“We’re more and more dependent, especially from the American hyperscalers” or major data centre operators, said Maya Noel, director general of the France Digitale network of tech companies and investment firms.
She will tell attendees that European options are needed if the continent is to remain in control of its economy.
As the Commission pressures American and Chinese platforms to tighten protections for underage internet users, American games publisher Roblox — whose eponymous game is vastly popular with minors — will outline how it plans to verify players’ ages.
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