A Thought (or two) on the Web Summit Experience

Yesterday, I returned to Graz after spending four intense days at the Web Summit in Lisbon. As I sat on the plane, flipping through the notes in my little notebook, I found myself processing a whirlwind of thoughts and impressions.

When my friends asked, “How was it? How were the startups?” I could see their anticipation for words like amazing, unforgettable, out-of-this-world inspiring—the kind of glowing titles and words shared quite often here on LinkedIn. And yes, parts of the experience were truly inspiring, amazing and different.

But there were other aspects, less shiny and more thought-provoking, that stayed with me.

The scale of the Web Summit was overwhelming, a convergence of thousands of people and ideas from around the globe, buzzing with innovation. For a first-time attendee, it was both exciting and challenging – probably this is the beauty of such events. But for me, as with any similar networking event, the true highlight was the people.

Among the countless conversations I had—some of which left me deeply motivated, ready to dive into new challenges (I think we all know that feeling after speaking with someone truly inspiring)—I couldn’t ignore a troubling trend. Many pitches and interactions felt overly polished, almost mechanical. Words like disruptive, revolutionized, and, of course, AI dominated every conversation. It seemed like everyone was pressing play on a mental script, reciting their pitch without pause, and exhaling only when they reached the end.

The human element often felt overshadowed. During pitches, more than half of the audience had their heads buried in their phones, grateful perhaps just to find a seat amidst the hustle. The energy felt less like a genuine exchange and more like a series of transactions.

I understand the pressure to perfect a pitch, to impress in a fleeting moment, and even the usage of AI tools to craft that perfect narrative.

But in this hunt for perfection, are we losing something essential? The magic of authenticity?

This brings me back to the Creators Lounge discussion a few days ago (I'll share it in the comments section) and its focus on human-centered AI. One of the key takeaways from our discussions there was the importance of leveraging AI to handle repetitive tasks, freeing humans to focus on creativity, connection, and well-being—qualities that make us uniquely human.

So, here’s the challenge I see for us: how do we integrate AI into our lives without losing our humanity? How do we utilize these powerful tools while staying creative, authentic, and uniquely ourselves?

The Web Summit was a vivid reminder of the incredible potential of technology, but also of the delicate balance we need to strike as a species. Let’s not lose sight of what truly makes us stand out—the human touch.

P.S. These are just my personal thoughts and observations—they don’t define the Web Summit experience, which is vast, multifaceted, and unique for everyone who attends. :)