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Roundup: Web Summit in Lisbon takes future of artificial intelligence as key topic

Xinhua, November 11, 2016 Adjust font size:

Artificial intelligence and how it will affect jobs was the key topics at Web Summit, one of EU's largest technology event which was held in Lisbon this year.

Over 53,000 people, including entrepreneurs, startups and investors, attended the three-day event between November 7 and 10.

Over 20,000 companies participated, as well as 2,000 startups, 663 speakers, 1,500 investors, 7,000 CEO's from technology, sport fashion and health companies among others. There were also around 2,000 journalists covering the event.

Web Summit moved from Dublin to Portugal this year. The event would generate at least 200 million euros for the Portuguese economy, according to the Lisbon Tourism Association.

One of the hot topics at this year's Web Summit was artificial intelligence. which Paddy Cosgrave, CEO of Web Summit, said governments have to start to prepare for the situation in which millions of workers see their jobs at stake.

"In 2010 and 2011 there were photo sharing apps, social networks, but there was little talk about artificial intelligence, and little talk about big data, and over 24 months in particular, there has been an explosion of AI startups," he told journalists at a press conference during the event.

The future of technology was also discussed in several conferences.

Thursday wrapped up with "The age of moonshots and Hyperloop One" with Hyperloop One co-founders Josh Giegel and Shervin Pishevar revealing negotiations with the Finnish and Dutch governments to implement their plans for a high speed transportation system.

The winner of the startup competition, Danish Company Kubo Robot, a robot designed to teach young children programming, was announced to close the event. The company won 100,00 euros.

Cosgrave said he believes the number of people attending the conference will begin to grow, and that the maximum capacity of 80,000 people will be reached by next year. (1 euro = 1.09 U.S. dollars) Endit