Web Summit Rio 2026 highlights AI-driven innovation in Brazil

The Web Summit Rio 2026 took place from June 8 to 11 in Rio de Janeiro, attracting more than 35,000 participants, around 1,500 startups, over 700 investors and hundreds of speakers. Topics such as artificial intelligence, data, automation and customer experience dominated the program, positioning AI as a strategic lever for productivity, decision‑making and deeper consumer relationships.

Brazilian organizations were prominently represented. The APAS association, with Rodrigo Mariano and Flávia Lopes, emphasized the need to integrate technology, people and processes to keep supermarkets competitive. NVIDIA’s Jen Hoskins stressed the role of technology, infrastructure and talent in accelerating innovation, while L’Oréal Brazil’s Marcelo Zimet highlighted the use of new tech in campaigns and the importance of diversity. Opinion contributors noted a shift from AI hype to concrete results: Itaú’s CIO Ricardo Guerra discussed scaling AI in a regulated financial environment; Open Health’s Garrett Glass described AI applications in health; leaders from Harness and Replit pointed to faster software delivery and broader developer access. Governance was a recurring theme, with Google Cloud’s Milena Leal and Netshoes’ Graciela Kumruian stressing risk management, transparency and accountability as AI becomes embedded in core operations.