Over 1,520 start-ups and 600 investors convene in Doha for an expanded edition of the year’s Web Summit.
The upcoming technological advancements of artificial intelligence (AI) are at the forefront for tech entrepreneurs and financial backers who have assembled in Doha for the second consecutive year at the Web Summit organized by Qatar.
During the four-day digital technology and innovation summit, which entered its second day on Monday, participants were keen on observing the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
Prominent entrepreneurs from around the globe, including Alexander Wang, the founder and CEO of Scale AI, and Alexis Ohanian, the co-founder of Reddit and a general partner at Seven Seven Six, were featured speakers at the event on the first day.
From Doha, Al Jazeera correspondent Colin Baker reported that the summit is addressing critical questions regarding AI’s future amidst “organizations and investors that are transforming that terrain more quickly than anticipated”.
According to Wang of Scale AI, which is based in the United States, while China and the United States are currently leading the charge in AI readiness, DeepSeek has shown that the race is closely contested between these two nations, and others will be compelled to catch up shortly.
“Essentially, nearly every country on this planet or almost every company will likely end up building AI technology atop either the US technology stack or China’s,” Wang stated.
Qatar aims to leverage its gas resources to establish itself as a regional leader in AI technology, amid competition from neighboring Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
On Sunday, the Qatari government announced a five-year agreement with Scale AI for the deployment of AI-driven tools and training, in an effort to upgrade public services in the Gulf Arab state.
Initiated in Dublin in 2009 by Paddy Cosgrave, the Web Summit commenced with just 150 attendees. In last year’s gathering, Qatar focused on drawing early-stage tech companies through incentives like complimentary visas, tax breaks, business licenses, office space, and funding for promising enterprises.
The Web Summit Qatar 2025 is hosting over 25,000 attendees from 124 countries, with more than 1,520 start-ups, over 600 investors, approximately 380 speakers, and 180 industry partners.
During the four-day digital technology and innovation summit, which entered its second day on Monday, participants were keen on observing the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
Prominent entrepreneurs from around the globe, including Alexander Wang, the founder and CEO of Scale AI, and Alexis Ohanian, the co-founder of Reddit and a general partner at Seven Seven Six, were featured speakers at the event on the first day.
From Doha, Al Jazeera correspondent Colin Baker reported that the summit is addressing critical questions regarding AI’s future amidst “organizations and investors that are transforming that terrain more quickly than anticipated”.
According to Wang of Scale AI, which is based in the United States, while China and the United States are currently leading the charge in AI readiness, DeepSeek has shown that the race is closely contested between these two nations, and others will be compelled to catch up shortly.
“Essentially, nearly every country on this planet or almost every company will likely end up building AI technology atop either the US technology stack or China’s,” Wang stated.
Qatar aims to leverage its gas resources to establish itself as a regional leader in AI technology, amid competition from neighboring Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
On Sunday, the Qatari government announced a five-year agreement with Scale AI for the deployment of AI-driven tools and training, in an effort to upgrade public services in the Gulf Arab state.
Initiated in Dublin in 2009 by Paddy Cosgrave, the Web Summit commenced with just 150 attendees. In last year’s gathering, Qatar focused on drawing early-stage tech companies through incentives like complimentary visas, tax breaks, business licenses, office space, and funding for promising enterprises.
The Web Summit Qatar 2025 is hosting over 25,000 attendees from 124 countries, with more than 1,520 start-ups, over 600 investors, approximately 380 speakers, and 180 industry partners.
