“Digital transformation advances at the speed of the weakest link”

The first day of the Portugal Digital Summit 2025, which takes place this Wednesday and Thursday at the Lisbon Congress Center, was marked by a set of reflections on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and the urgency of preparing people and organizations for a rapidly changing digital future. No matter the sector or size of the business, the truth is that there is no way to escape this change that impacts all areas of organizations.

The conference brought together dozens of speakers who, on different stages, shared the experiences of the organizations they represent, the challenges they face, and the way they see the future of technology, and above all AI, on topics as diverse as Leadership and Work, Digital Skills, Disruptive Technologies, Public Administration, Mobility and Territorial Innovation, or Regulation.

At an event where one of the main objectives is to bring together technology and business in an integrated way, the conclusion was immediately drawn that digital transformation does not depend only on technological tools, but on the human capacity to understand, apply and scale it. “Transformation advances at the speed of the weakest link in the chain”, stated João Santos Pereira. The executive director of the Faculty of Medicine of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, who participated in one of the day’s debates, also highlighted that the success of digital organizations requires investment in skills, culture and leadership.

learn to think

Another conclusion from the first day of the Portugal Digital Summit, unanimous among speakers as diverse as teachers, judges, managers or technology experts, is that technology only makes sense when it amplifies human intelligence. “More than learning technology, we need to learn to think with it”, stated Pedro Santa Clara, teacher and co-founder of Escola 42. The idea was reinforced by Inês Rocha de Gouveia who highlighted that “the world changes, but the ability to learn, adapt and invent will continue to be our greatest asset”. The president of Fundação Santander also highlighted the importance of continuous training, one of the missions of the institution she represents, which provides two platforms – for companies and individuals -, which democratize access to digital learning. “People want to learn at their own pace, in a practical and digital way”, he highlighted.

Discover the main conclusions below:

Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation

• AI must be used with caution in justice, as decision support and never as a substitute for the judge. The AssessorIA project, presented by CSTAF judge, Eliana Pinto, is an example of responsible application. “The law loses its soul if the machine thinks for us”, he said.
• AI adoption is moving from the experimentation phase to the evaluation and scalability phase, with 75% of investments focused on cybersecurity, reveals a Kyndryl study.
• AI must be implemented with a strategic vision, aligning processes, people and technology. Leadership must be visionary and promote internal technology evangelization.

Digital skills and training

• There is a critical talent shortage in AI, cloud and cybersecurity. Only 27% of Portuguese companies invest in technological training.
• Training must be aligned with the business strategy and transversal to all levels of the organization.
• Without training, a culture of innovation and strategic leadership, technology does not transform, it only promises.

Organizational culture and leadership

• Leadership must ensure that investments in technology translate into real impact on the organization, avoiding entropy between processes and people.
• The culture of innovation must be built before technological implementation. AI requires clear objectives and a high-performance culture.

Talent, partnerships and ecosystems

• Talent retention requires a culture of excellence and the ability to adapt to change. Companies must position themselves as innovative to attract young talent. “We have to create a culture of excellence and show that we are using cutting-edge technology, even from Portugal”, said Nelson Boavida, from Novobanco.
• Building ecosystems of technology partners is essential to accelerate innovation and transfer knowledge.
• Organizational adaptability is a critical success factor because the digital future is not built just with machines, but with intelligence, humanity and collaboration.

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