Top Tech Leaders Gather in Lisbon to Address Uncertainty Following Trump's Re-Election

Tech industry's most significant events, The web summit, commenced in Lisbon on Tuesday, November 12, under a cloud of uncertainty following Donald Trump's re-election.

This gathering, which attracts 70,000 participants, including over 3,000 startups and 1,000 investors, is keenly focused on potential changes in U.S. technology policy and international relations.

The anticipated influence of SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk on the new administration adds another layer of intrigue.

During Trump's previous term, the tech sector often found itself at odds with his policies, particularly concerning immigration restrictions and an intensified trade war with China.

As Trump prepares to assume office again in January, industry leaders are bracing for fresh challenges, especially as global urgency around AI and tech regulations intensifies.

The summit kicked off with a star-studded opening led by singer Pharrell Williams. This year marks the return of major firms like Meta and Google, after last year's controversy when several companies withdrew following statements by Web Summit CEO Paddy Cosgrave. Cosgrave had accused Israel of war crimes in Gaza, leading to his temporary step down.

However, he resumed his role without addressing the incident, choosing instead to focus on the startup community.

Microsoft President Brad Smith is set to present Microsoft's forward-looking AI strategy, a central theme this year. Cosgrave described the summit as "one of the world’s biggest AI events," highlighting numerous sessions on AI innovation and its potential societal impacts.

Max Tegmark, president of the Future of Life Institute, issued a stark warning about the rapid advances in artificial general intelligence (AGI).

He urged governments to implement stringent regulations to prevent AGI from reaching a point where it could overpower human control, cautioning that it is not merely an "arms race" between global superpowers but a potential "suicide race" for humanity.