Future Societies

Where world leaders and decision-makers gather

What does tomorrow look like? Future Societies gathers world leaders, tech innovators, policymakers and activists to examine how technology is transforming the way we live, learn, work and play. Want to hear more about Future Societies? Join us in Lisbon this November.

Kim Smouter, Executive Director, European Network Against Racism (ENAR); on Future Societies Stage during day two of Web Summit 2023 at the Altice Arena in Lisbon, Portugal.
Kim Smouter
Executive Director
European Network Against Racism (ENAR)

What's happening?

Web Summit attendees will learn about what lies in store for society from the world’s best-informed speakers in onstage talks, panel discussions and Q&As, as well as roundtables and masterclasses. That’s not all – your ticket gives you access to all Future Societies sessions, as well as to roundtables, masterclasses and all 25+ tracks at Web Summit.

Meredith Whittaker, President, Signal
The people v big tech

The tech industry is experiencing mass layoffs as funding cools off and valuations dip. Those who’ve been hardest hit are the working people behind tech’s behemoths. Does the imperative to turn a profit trump the welfare of employees?

Will tech save or destroy democracy?

As tech becomes all-pervasive, the need to establish effective regulations grows more urgent. What we say and even how we think is threatened by the almighty algorithm.  Do we need technology to save democracy, or should we be saving democracy from technology?

Will AI destroy humanity?

AI has long been touted as one of the technologies that will transform the future, and yet, in the past 12 months, that future has rapidly become the present. But the outlook is not entirely positive, and many experts are concerned about how AI might reshape or undermine society. So what happens next?

Will we regret the future?

In spite of all the advances we’ve made in tech and innovation, have we really done enough to stop human suffering and climate disaster? Why are we still dealing with famine, drought and war in the 21st century? In what ways has tech failed to fix these global crises, and what needs to happen to make sure we confront them head on?

Meet some of our past society speakers

Ayọ (fka Opal) Tometi
Ayọ (fka Opal) Tometi
Ayọ (fka Opal) Tometi
Co-founderBlack Lives Matter
Olena Zelenska
Olena Zelenska
Olena Zelenska
The First Lady of UkraineUkraine
Malala Yousafzai
Malala Yousafzai
Malala Yousafzai
Co-founderMalala Fund
Margrethe Vestager
Margrethe Vestager
Margrethe Vestager
EVP: A Europe Fit for the Digital AgeEuropean Commission
Justin Trudeau
Justin Trudeau
Justin Trudeau
Prime MinisterGovernment of Canada
Pedro Sánchez
Pedro Sánchez
Pedro Sánchez
Prime MinisterGovernment of Spain
Deborah Archer
Deborah Archer
Deborah Archer
PresidentACLU
Ursula von der Leyen
Ursula von der Leyen
Ursula von der Leyen
PresidentEuropean Commission
António Costa
António Costa
António Costa
Prime MinisterGovernment of Portugal
Cornel West
Cornel West
Cornel West
Academic and activist
Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Executive Chairman of the Institute for Global Change; Former Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern IrelandTony Blair Global Institute
Al Gore
Al Gore
Al Gore
ChairmanGeneration Investment Management
Frances Haugen
Frances Haugen
Frances Haugen
The Facebook WhistleblowerWhistleblower Aid
Kumi Naidoo
Kumi Naidoo
Kumi Naidoo
Secretary-GeneralAmnesty International
Edward Snowden
Edward Snowden
Edward Snowden
PresidentFreedom of the Press Foundation

Companies that attend

“Design with equity and real justice in mind.”

Ayọ Tometi, Co-founder, Black Lives Matter

"Unchecked AI can amplify bias in the workplace more than we’ve ever seen before."

Keith Sonderling, Commissioner, US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

"Let sustainability be a need to have, and not a nice to have."

Sita Chantramonklasri, Founder & Principal, Siam Capital, on Centre Stage during day three of Web Summit 2023 at the Altice Arena in Lisbon, Portugal

 

Sita Chantramonklasri, Founder & Principal, Siam Capital

Never miss another speaker announcement