Opening remarks

AI Summit at Web Summit Vancouver 2026: Empowering Builders, Elevating Humanity

PJ Hagerty, Founder of DevRelate.io, welcomed attendees to the AI summit at Web Summit Vancouver 2026. The event focuses on builders and technologists exploring artificial intelligence’s impact on product development and new methodologies. Mr. Hagerty introduced his company, DevRelate.io, emphasizing technology’s core purpose: alleviating human toil and simplifying tasks.

With 17 years in developer relations, rooted in the open-source world, Mr. Hagerty underscored its foundational role in today’s technology. He asserted that innovation must always focus on the people it serves, genuinely eliminating unnecessary work.

Addressing concerns about job displacement, Mr. Hagerty clarified that AI’s role is not to replace workers but to assist them. He noted that “CEOs are replacing people’s jobs,” not AI, highlighting AI’s need for human interaction and input to function effectively.

A quick poll revealed the diverse attendance at Web Summit Vancouver 2026, with many first-time attendees alongside veterans. Mr. Hagerty reflected on significant technological shifts since 2012, from cloud computing’s revolutionary introduction to its current fundamental status.

He noted how cloud technology transformed infrastructure, eliminating the need for physical servers. Today, containers and Kubernetes are standard for DevOps. Mr. Hagerty positioned AI as the next logical frontier in technological evolution.

Reflecting on his youth, Mr. Hagerty recalled AI being envisioned as fully autonomous and reasoning. He acknowledged that while current AI, particularly large language models (LLMs) using natural language processing, has advanced remarkably, it lacks complete self-awareness.

The pace of innovation is astounding, with significant leaps made in just five years. Mr. Hagerty highlighted the transition from pandemic lockdowns to a reality where AI can manage personal schedules and transportation. The AI summit stage aims to explore present capabilities and future possibilities.

Mr. Hagerty concluded by reiterating the interconnectedness of rapid technological advancement, the vital role of open source, and the human-centric nature of AI. He emphasized that diverse perspectives and conversations, including disagreements, are essential for fostering genuine progress.

The first session will delve into the critical question of power distribution in the AI landscape, drawing parallels with open source’s transformative impact in the 1990s. Mr. Hagerty then introduced Mike Conover, CEO of Brightwave, to speak on why open source is poised to dominate the agent era.