Web Summit 2024: The future of AI and data governance

Last week, Lisbon was jam-packed with innovation as Web Summit 2024 saw over 70,000 attendees and 3,000 companies at one of the largest tech conferences in the world. Across the exhibition floor and track presentations, a clear theme emerged: while AI offers numerous benefits, its large-scale impact on data processing raises concerns among many parties, from consumers, legislators, and government bodies.

This highlights the need for organisations to ensure that AI technologies are properly regulated and governed. Heading into 2025, these are critical considerations for businesses navigating the rapidly evolving tech landscape.  

The great AI debate: Balancing innovation and safeguards  

At the forefront of discussions was the pressing need for faster AI regulation. During ‘The Great AI Debate: Who Decides Our Future?’, Max Tegmark, President of the Future of Life Institute, advocated for accelerated legislation to mitigate the risks posed by advanced AI systems, including artificial general intelligence (AGI). Yet, Tegmark reminded attendees to focus on the positive impacts AI is already having, especially in critical fields like medicine.  

Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft, outlined a comprehensive framework for AI governance during his keynote, ‘The Next Great GPT’. Microsoft envisions a multi-layered approach to AI governance, including global and national policies, industry standards, and internal practices. Smith stressed that responsible innovation must go hand in hand with ethical considerations, ensuring AI's benefits extend across society.  

AI roadblocks and opportunities for businesses  

AI’s abilities are vast, leaving organisations with the challenge of being able to manage its potential. An onsite survey captured attendees’ views on the impact AI is having on the workplace. The majority saw its greatest potential in automating tasks and predicting business challenges in new markets. Yet, a recurring issue emerged: the skills gap in IT teams to manage AI, reflecting a growing need for talent that are equipped to keep up with this transformative technology.  

Data governance in the AI era  

As AI adoption accelerates, Web Summit highlighted how organisations must contend with increasingly complex questions surrounding data governance. Here are some key considerations and actions for businesses:

• Data sovereignty and ethics: Data is the foundation of AI models, yet its acquisition and use are tangled with regulatory and ethical challenges. The EU AI Act, a landmark regulatory framework, exemplifies the scrutiny AI technologies now face. It mandates businesses to prioritise the health, safety, and rights of individuals while deploying AI responsibly. 
  
  Action: Map AI processes against current and upcoming regulations, like the EU AI Act, to ensure compliance and ethical alignment.  
• Global privacy and security: AI models increasingly rely on global data, making it essential to navigate the complexities of international privacy laws. For businesses, this means aligning operations with frameworks like the EU AI Act while safeguarding data integrity across borders.
  
  Action: Develop and implement robust policies to manage how data is stored, accessed and traced, ensuring compliance with global privacy standards and secure handling of sensitive data.  
• Connectivity challenges: Generative AI's growing demand for high-speed cloud connectivity raises concerns about infrastructure capabilities and data security, especially when using the public internet.
  
  Action: Transition to a private network environment that offers secure and resilient connectivity for AI deployment, minimising risks associated with the public internet. 

If you're tackling the challenge of securely and efficiently moving your data to comply with governance regulations or to meet the demands of generative AI, Console Connect can help. Get in touch today.