The monarch was joined by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Catalan President Salvador Illa. This year's theme, The IQ Era, highlights the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence within the telecommunications industry.
“"The intelligence of the future cannot be limited to the artificial; it must be ethical and profoundly human."
The event's start has been complicated by geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East, leading to flight cancellations and the absence of key speakers like EU official Teresa Ribera. Meanwhile, protesters gathered outside to demand stricter human rights standards for tech companies.
