Optimistic, sharper and busier. Most feel good about AI, with 55% saying it strengthens their thinking. Yet 60% report an increased workload, and 42% expect smaller teams. 



Heavier workloads and fewer entry-level roles ahead, yet sharper thinking and overall optimism about the future of work. These contrasting findings come from <a href="https://docsend.com/view/2gcksfp5xk96n874">Web Summit’s first State of the Industry</a> survey, which polled 1,455 founders, investors, engineers, and creators across its global community ahead of its flagship Lisbon event this November. As the world’s biggest gathering of entrepreneurs, policymakers, researchers, and leaders, Web Summit is uniquely placed to chart how tech is rewiring itself for an AI-driven future.



While public AI debates swing between warnings of “brain rot,” open vs closed-source rivalries, and fears of mass job losses, the reality for tech workers is more nuanced. Most say AI sharpens their critical thinking, with some saying it frees them up for higher-level work. Yet most also say it increases their workload. Many expect smaller teams to carry the extra load, leaving fewer opportunities for early-career talent. Meanwhile, engineers, the people building these tools, remain the most sceptical group.



Web Summit’s State of Industry report explores these tensions across seven main findings. You can read the full report <a href="https://docsend.com/view/2gcksfp5xk96n874">here</a>.



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Most say AI is strengthening critical thinking: 55% say AI strengthens their critical thinking, 19% see no difference and 26% say it weakens it. Older respondents are the most convinced: 71% of those aged 65 and over, compared with 48% of 18- to 24-year-olds. Engineers are the most sceptical, with 37% saying it’s weakening their thinking. </li>



<li>AI is not reducing workload: 60% say AI has increased their workload, while 20% say it has reduced it. The rise is strongest in AI-adjacent industries, led by AI/ML infrastructure at 70%. </li>



<li>The tech industry has mixed reviews on job security: 39% expect headcount in their field to grow over the next two years, and 33% expect it to fall. For entry-level jobs, the outlook is more negative: 42% expect fewer, rising to 50% among C-suite respondents. Students are the exception, with 55% expecting more. </li>



<li>AI users are not loyal to a single model: Most respondents rely on multiple AI providers, using 2.3 on average, and 43% use three or more. </li>



<li>Few expect an AI crash: While only about 1 in 10 think AI investment will fall sharply, roughly a third think investment is too high and will slow down, but will do so gradually. A similar share think it is still in its early stages and will keep growing. The people building AI are the most doubtful, with more than half of engineering and product respondents saying investment is already too high. </li>



<li>People expect smaller companies to do more: 42% expect smaller teams to have a higher output, while only 9% think teams will grow in size. </li>



<li>Women think people skills will matter more. Men back technical skills: 41% of women say emotional intelligence will become more valuable, compared with 27% of men. 38% of men point to technical depth, compared with 24% of women.</li>
</ul>



“This study makes it clear that people are divided about a future with AI”, says Web Summit SVP of Technology Operations&nbsp; Nidhi Naithani. “But what I find most surprising, but also not surprising at all, is the feedback from our engineering and developer community. Those who are tasked with building the processes and systems to make jobs easier and quicker are the group who are most worried about job security. It seems counterintuitive, but as engineers and founders are generally the builders and earliest adopters of these technologies, they generally have the best understanding and a front-row seat to its impact.”



These debates will take centre stage in Lisbon on November 9-12, where more than 70,000 attendees from more than 100 countries, including 10,000 startups, will gather to shape what comes next. Among them will be the most significant gathering of Chinese tech leaders ever at a Western tech event, from Tencent and Xiaomi to Pony.AI and Manus. 



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