Pharrell Williams to Headline Web Summit and Share Insights on Culture and Commerce

Singer, producer, and fashion icon Pharrell Williams is set to kick off one of Europe’s largest tech events, the Web Summit in Lisbon, on Monday. This year’s event aims to move forward from the controversies of the previous year, when several major tech firms, including Google and Meta, pulled out following social media posts by Web Summit CEO Paddy Cosgrave accusing Israel of war crimes in Gaza. Cosgrave has since apologized and returned to his role.

The Web Summit will gather around 70,000 attendees, featuring more than 3,000 startups and 1,000 investors. Despite last year’s setbacks, big tech firms are back, albeit with a lower profile. Microsoft President Brad Smith will be a key speaker, outlining Microsoft’s future artificial intelligence strategy after significant investments in the technology.

Artificial intelligence is expected to be a central theme at the conference, with discussions on its impact on the planet, art, social interactions, and the role of governments in regulating technology. The recent re-election of Donald Trump and the potential involvement of tech mogul Elon Musk in his administration will also be a topic of discussion. However, the full impact of these developments on the tech industry is still being assessed.

Pharrell Williams, who is also set to star in the latest Lego movie “Piece by Piece,” will speak about “the intersection of culture and commerce.” His talk will highlight his visionary approach and his success across multiple industries, from music to fashion and beyond.

In other news, Pharrell Williams recently shared that he was fired from McDonald's three times early in his career, a testament to his perseverance and eventual success in various fields.