LISBON, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Web Summit opened here on Monday, with artificial intelligence (AI) as the most prominent feature of this year's edition.
Key topics at this year's event include "vibe coding," a form of programming that uses AI to generate code, with discussions focusing on whether it marks the next major leap or the end of programming, and on who controls AI and who benefits from it.
According to the Web Summit, as AI models are trained on online content, the competition for access and profit is becoming increasingly fierce.
The Web Summit, a global conference launched in Dublin in 2009 and moved to Lisbon in 2016, brings together a global community of founders, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and investors to connect and exchange ideas about the technology and trends shaping the world.
This year's event also includes the China Summit, which features its own stage, dedicated day, and speakers from the media, industry, and academia. The summit's organizers said the objective is to showcase and discuss innovations made in China and how the country's economy is accelerating in areas such as AI, deep-tech scientific research, and industrial transformation.
Speaking at the beginning of the event, Portuguese Minister for State Reform Goncalo Matias said that the digital revolution presents a historic opportunity to create new industries, new jobs, and new prosperity.
"Portugal is ready to become a center of excellence in AI," Matias further said, describing the country as "cost-competitive" and having "global ambitions."
This year's Web Summit, running until Thursday, is expected to welcome more than 70,000 attendees, over 2,500 startups showcasing products and services, and more than 1,000 investors. ■