AI is reshaping the digital landscape: key takeaways from Web Summit Qatar 2025

The third edition of Web Summit Qatar, held from February 23 to 26, 2025, marked a new milestone in Qatar’s consolidation as a global tech hub. The event brought together over 25,000 participants, 1,500 startups, and 600 investors from 124 countries, reinforcing its strategic role in the region. This growing influence aligns with Qatar’s ambition to accelerate its technological development and enhance its attractiveness in the field of innovation.

At Eneon, we were on-site to take the pulse of the industry and closely observe the dynamics shaping the future of digital transformation in this part of the world. The Web Summit provided a unique opportunity to connect with key market players, assess the impact of the latest advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), and identify the trends redefining corporate digital strategies.

A transformation that has become imperative

“The best time to integrate AI into your business was yesterday. The second-best time is today.” This powerful statement from Paul Smith, President of Global Customer and Field Operations at ServiceNow, underscores the urgency for businesses to adopt artificial intelligence. AI is no longer an option—it is a necessity.

“AI enables companies to accelerate their processes, become more efficient, and, most importantly, optimize their interactions with customers,” says Alexandr Wang, Founder and CEO of Scale AI. Integrating AI into business operations significantly reduces costs while improving performance.

Today, autonomous agents can execute complex tasks, engage in customer interactions, and analyze massive data streams in real-time. Aidan Gomez, CEO of Cohere, highlighted the growing role of conversational AI models, which are evolving into ultra-intelligent systems capable of anticipating user needs and streamlining interactions.

Structuring and securing data: the key battleground

While AI is transforming the user experience and optimizing business performance, it relies on one fundamental element: data. Eduardo Saverin, co-founder of B Capital, emphasized the importance of effective data structuring to maximize its potential:
“The challenge is not just to accumulate information but to leverage it intelligently to extract strategic insights.”

However, data security, control, and accuracy are just as critical. During the summit, solutions like those presented by Dwinity highlighted the importance of data sovereignty, ensuring that users retain full ownership of their information, which remains inaccessible to third parties without explicit consent. This approach enhances data protection and strengthens customer trust in digital services.

Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit and investor in numerous startups, warned against a future where businesses that fail to control their own data become mere satellites of major AI-driven platforms. The challenge is significant:
Companies must build robust infrastructures that allow them to harness their own data-driven insights—rather than letting third parties dictate the user experience.

AI is redefining the customer experience

AI is not just about automation—it is also reshaping the customer experience (CX). Laura Chambers, CEO of Mozilla, highlights the rise of hyper-personalized experiences:
“We are entering an era where users expect intuitive interfaces capable of adapting content to their preferences in real-time.”

A concrete example presented at the summit is Qatar Airways‘ unveiling of Sama, an AI-powered holographic virtual assistant. Sama interacts naturally with customers, answering their questions and guiding them seamlessly through the booking process. This innovation demonstrates how AI can transform customer interactions, making them smoother and more personalized.

Rethinking experiences with AI

To fully harness the benefits of AI, businesses must reassess and adapt their processes. It’s not just about integrating cutting-edge technologies—it’s about fundamentally rethinking service design and delivery.

This requires a deep analysis of customer journeys to identify opportunities where AI can provide significant added value:

• Enhancing process efficiency
• Personalizing offerings in real-time
• Boosting customer satisfaction through a smoother, more engaging digital experience

A technological turning point shaping the future

Web Summit Qatar 2025 confirmed that we are only at the beginning of the AI revolution. The rise of conversational agents, the growing power of AI models dedicated to automation, and the more refined exploitation of data signal a profound transformation of the digital landscape.

At Eneon, we firmly believe that the future lies in what we call “Accelerated XP”:
An approach where simplified user journeys and intelligent hyper-personalization, made possible by optimized data management—with precision and accuracy as key pillars—enable the creation of remarkably enhanced user experiences.

As we step into this new era, one thing is certain: AI will not just be another tool. It will remain the fundamental pillar of the digital world of tomorrow.