This is the first post in Trust Insight’s trilogy about Web Summit Rio 2025.
With over 34,000 participants, 1,397 startups from 43 countries, and leading figures from the tech industry, Web Summit Rio 2025 has solidified itself as the largest innovation event in Latin America — and Trust Insight was there to closely follow the trends shaping the future of business and technology. Here are the most impactful announcements we witnessed:
Web Summit stays in Rio until 2030.
The most symbolic announcement of the edition was its continuation for another five years. The event’s success not only secured Rio’s position as host until 2030, but also strengthened the city as an emerging international hub for innovation and business.The birth of “Rio AI City.”
During the opening ceremony, Mayor Eduardo Paes launched the ambitious Rio AI City project, aiming to transform Rio de Janeiro into one of the top 10 AI hubs in the world. The initiative includes expanding data centers, fostering research, and attracting global tech companies to Rio’s port area — already part of the Porto Maravilha urban revitalization project.Dataprev and the monetization of personal data.
In partnership with U.S. startup DrumWave, Brazil’s Dataprev announced a pioneering project to monetize personal data. The initiative aims to allow INSS retirees and pensioners to be financially rewarded when sharing their data consensually.Ivete Sangalo and TikTok announce Search Ads in Brazil.
With her trademark charisma on stage, Ivete Sangalo joined TikTok in unveiling Search Ads, now officially launched in Brazil. The feature will allow brands to position themselves directly in user search intentions, opening new frontiers for digital marketing.Itaú launches AI-powered investment assistant.
Itaú Unibanco introduced a generative AI investment assistant, set to roll out later this semester to a select group of clients. The tool marks an important step toward hyper-personalization and scalability in Brazil’s financial services.Pitch winner: DigAÍ.
The winning startup of the event’s pitch competition was DigAÍ, a conversational AI platform for business solutions.AI and retail at the center of discussions.
Executives from Renner, Leroy Merlin, and Loja Integrada debated the use of data and AI to drive retail performance. The consensus: personalization and responsible data use are key to the future of retail.AI as a driver of sustainability.
Across multiple panels, leaders explored how AI can enable more sustainable and inclusive business models, despite adoption challenges faced by Brazilian companies.Humanoid robots, ChatGPT 4.0, and the future of work.
From ChatGPT 4.0 to the new generation of humanoid robots by Nvidia, showcased technologies revealed that automation is rapidly approaching human-like interaction, with applications ranging from customer service to hospitality. Repeatedly, speakers also reflected on AI’s impact on creative professions, such as video direction and music composition.
Web Summit Rio 2025 was not merely a stage for product launches and networking — it was a showcase of technology’s transformative power, with direct impact on the economy, the public sector, and everyday life.
At Trust Insight, we remain vigilant to market transformations, connecting our clients with the right experts to understand and lead these changes.