US-China tensions weigh on Lisbon's Web Summit
Global tech leaders packed Lisbon's annual Web Summit Tuesday to talk artificial intelligence, robots and startups -- all under the shadow of global tensions over cutting-edge hardware and software and the resources needed to build them.
Lanyard-wearing visitors were exploring bright blue-and-pink stands under a grey November sky, on the lookout for the latest in quantum computing or humanoid robots.
Over four days, the "Davos for geeks" is set to welcome over 70,000 visitors from 150 countries, including 2,500 startups and 1,000 investors, according to organisers.
China's climb towards tech dominance is on mind of many attendees.
"Half the world's computer scientists and computer engineers who are on the frontier of these technologies are in China," Nvidia's vice-president of simulation technology Rev Lebaredian told AFP.
The American chip giant's chief executive Jensen Huang warned earlier this month that China "is going to win" the race to master next-generation artificial intelligence.
That was despite the fact that Nvidia's most advanced chips -- used to train and run AI systems -- are unavailable in China due to export restrictions.
"If we try to exclude them, they will find a way to go develop the same things," Lebaredian said.
"We will lose the opportunity to work with them and benefit from the work that they do."
Web Summit founder Paddy Cosgrave had told attendees at Monday's opening night event that "this year, more than any year before, it's clear that the era of Western tech dominance is fading."
- Robots and autonomous cars -
The "most advanced humanoid robots in the world" on display are "not European, they're not American. Instead, they are Chinese," Cosgrave said.
Leading manufacturer Unitree was running demonstrations of its humanoids on Monday.
And a few metres away, Chinese 3D printer maker Bambulab's stand showed off machines able to crank out physical objects within a few hours -- themselves designed based on text prompts to a generative AI model, rather than traditional software tools.
Such uses show off a transition for AI from "purely software, abstract plays, into... the physical world," Lebaredian said.
US speakers in the field will include Amazon Robotics boss Tye Brady and Robert Playter of Boston Dynamics.
Uber president Andrew Macdonald and rival Lyft's chief David Risher will talk up schemes to fill the streets with robotaxis.
Uber has partnered with Nvidia to upgrade tens of thousands of vehicles with automation tech from 2027.
Waymo, a subsidiary of Google parent company Alphabet, has said its driverless vehicles will arrive in London next year. And several Chinese manufacturers including Baidu and Pony.ai have Europe in their sights for an automated car rollout.
- AI and chips -
The struggle for dominance may be fiercest in generative artificial intelligence.
Tuesday speaker Cristiano Amon, boss of American chip developer Qualcomm, has announced AI chips squaring up to sector heavyweight Nvidia and challenger AMD.
He talked about future phones as "just a big processor that runs AI".
Several leaders of other top AI firms will also appear, including Microsoft president Brad Smith.
Monday's opening night had starred Swedish AI firm Lovable, one of several firms allowing users to create apps and websites via a chatbot without coding experience.
British dictionary publisher Collins dubbed this "vibe coding" approach its word of the year for 2025.
"We're seeing 100,000 new products built on Lovable every single day," chief executive Anton Osika told attendees.
- Health and sports -
Monday also saw tennis great Maria Sharapova praise AI tools' value to sports -- from preparing athletes for competition to speeding up recovery time or stoking fans' engagement.
And wearables, such as watches and rings able to monitor sleep, heart rate or body temperature, mean that tech's ability to detect initial signs of illness will be another hot topic.
- Tech sovereignty -
Brussels will send Henna Virkkunen, the European Commission's digital chief, as the 27-nation EU is increasingly fearful for its technological sovereignty amid rising trade and political tensions.
As the Commission pressures American and Chinese platforms to tighten measures for underage internet users, American games publisher Roblox -- whose game platform is popular with minors -- will outline how it plans to verify players' ages.
T.Gruber--MP
