Dancing robots take centre stage at Lisbon’s Web Summit

Dancing robots, smart safety devices and a teenage AI prodigy are drawing crowds at this year's Web Summit in Lisbon. The 9th edition of the event has gathered 70,000 participants, 900 speakers and nearly 3,000 startups from 108 countries.

Among the highlights is Portuguese entrepreneur Julieta Rueff’s FlamAid, a portable alarm that activates with a pull pin, sending GPS data to contacts and police.

Ukrainian startup SYLA is showcasing a motorised bionic knee that adjusts in real time to each user’s movement. The youngest voice on stage, 15-year-old Aarav Sharma from Singapore, is presenting a brain-controlled bionic arm.

The event also explores questions around AI control, coding automation, and the environmental cost of digital innovation.