WEB SUMMIT 2019: The Lectures Worth Listening ♦ With 24 stages and hundreds of speakers, it’s easy to miss the best moments. Secrets From Portugal made a selection of some of the lectures and debates worth listening to during the Web Summit week. Stay tuned for more, and enjoy!
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In 2019, Web Summit retains the format of recent years: bringing together researchers, scientists, politicians, celebrities, and CEOs of big (or small) companies (and even some robots) to talk about technology, politics and beyond. In addition to the main stage at the Altice Arena, there are 23 stages dedicated to specific themes and over 1200 guest speakers. The lectures are short – they last about 20 minutes – but the aim is to get the audience to think. Tickets can reach many thousands of euros. But you can follow everything online for free.
November 4th
Edward Snowden is the main guest. Before the official opening – which brings together Paddy Cosgrave, Fernando Medina and Economy minister Pedro Siza Vieira – the event kicks off with the man who exposed US espionage programs. Following is a presentation by Guo Ping, one of Huawei’s vice presidents, about the future of technology and the new 5G networks in a year when the US has been trying to convince its allies, including Portugal, of the risks of the Chinese giant’s equipment. based on espionage fears.
November 5th
Michel Barnier, the EU chief negotiator for Brexit, takes the stage to talk about the challenges of this process. Uber executives share plans to turn the platform into an “operating system” for city life. Wikipedia executive chairwoman Katherine Mayer will talk about managing an open platform at a time when privacy and copyright take centre stage. And those responsible for Calibra – Facebook’s digital wallet – will try to demystify how the currency works at a time when regulators are sceptical.
November 6th
Microsoft CEO Brad Smith returns to the Web Summit to talk about “cyber diplomacy” in an era when digital can be both a weapon and a powerful tool. Then Sophia – the Hanson Robotics robot inspired by actress Audrey Hepburn – takes the stage for the fourth year in a row. Will be accompanied by a robot inspired by science fiction author Philip K. Dick.
November 7th
Elected the winner of the startup contest that runs between the three days – a trace of the original mission of the fair as a stage for companies to present themselves to the public and investors. Earlier, European Commissioner Věra Jourová, with the portfolio of Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, will talk about the possibility of regulating large technology companies. European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager will also take the stage on Thursday. The US position will be shared by current White House technology officer Michael Kratsios.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Paddy Cosgrave will close the event.
