End of this live. The editorial team will cover Nexus throughout the rest of the day and tomorrow.

11:45. “Our goal is to develop the ecosystem and support businesses. Take our Meluxina supercomputer, for example: it provides powerful data analysis and quantum technology capabilities, which has already enabled several startups to launch their projects. We must continue to invest in AI and quantum technologies. Next year, our infrastructure will be strengthened with the launch of Meluxina-AI, to support green finance and the space sector, among other things. Our vision is clear: we need trusted partners to build a smarter and more sustainable future,” concluded Luxinnovation CEO Mario Grotz.

11:35. “ChatGPT is just the beginning,” says Fernand Dominguez Pinuaga, vice president of Sandbox AQ. Fernand Dominguez Pinuaga, who urged us to take a step back from the hype surrounding generative AI. “ChatGPT is a bit like the beginning of a relationship: you have a lot of expectations... then you discover its limits.” For Dominguez Pinuaga, generative AI represents only one facet of a much broader field: “What we see today is just the tip of the iceberg. There are other, less publicised forms of artificial intelligence that use data differently. And by combining them, we can create extremely powerful models.”

11:30. The director general of the Chamber of Commerce, , issued a clear call: “Luxembourg must seize the moment. We have the vision and the assets to become a hub for artificial intelligence.” To realise this ambition, the Chamber of Commerce has established a dedicated working group. But to go further, “we propose the creation of a national platform dedicated to AI, with a substantial budget and clear governance, to turn our ambition into reality.” According to him, AI can transform four key sectors in Luxembourg: “productivity, innovation, financing and finally--a crucial point--the time factor.” He added: “Artificial intelligence is a global race. We need alliances. But we cannot do it alone. Hence the importance of the European Union.”

11:15. For Pony.AI co-founder and CEO James Peng, Luxembourg represents much more than just a regional office. “Luxembourg is one of our main offices and an excellent base for our development,” he said during his speech. The company specialises in autonomous vehicles. After a decade dedicated to technological development--with a focus on “comfort, safety, efficiency”--Peng believes that “the next ten years will be dedicated to the expansion of the company.” And Pony.AI is counting on Luxembourg to achieve this: “We will use Luxembourg to scale up quickly.”

11:00. “The City of Luxembourg is proud to be one of the main partners in this event,” said the capital’s mayor, (DP). “Alongside the government, the Chamber of Commerce and Luxinnovation, the City intends to play an active role in the search for joint solutions to the challenges of tomorrow.”

“For us, technology is not a one-off project, but a real strategy. A strategy to become more sustainable, more efficient and more inclusive.” She concludes, “The topics discussed over the next two days are not just trends, but concrete responses to the challenges our city is already facing.”

10:50. Rakuten CEO Mickey Mikitani then took to the stage to explain the Japanese group’s growth strategy. “We are neither an American nor a Chinese company,” he insisted, recalling the diversification and importance of Rakuten, which is active in e-commerce, banking and telecommunications in Japan. Artificial intelligence is central to this strategy: “We are aiming to increase our marketing and customer productivity by 20%. Thanks to AI, our marketing efficiency has already increased by 10%.” For Mikitani, there are many applications, from creativity to recruitment: “Those who don’t use AI today will lose their jobs tomorrow.”

10:40. With a touch of humour in his introduction, (DP) joked about the length of his past speeches, before adopting a more serious tone. The foreign minister stressed the importance of not looking away from international tensions: “In the current context, marked by numerous conflicts around the world, it is crucial to remember that diversity is a strength, not a problem. This is a reality that we live in Luxembourg.”

Prime minister (CSV): “We are convinced that Europe has a role to play in the future of artificial intelligence. AI has an impact on every aspect of our lives. It is therefore essential to identify the most strategic areas now. With this memorandum signed this morning with Mistral AI, we have affirmed our willingness to work together. When there are technological advances, we have to embrace them, to remain a leading country, whether in finance, space or elsewhere. Luxembourg has become what it is today thanks to its openness, its ability to speak several languages, and because companies see it as a gateway to the world. That’s exactly what we want to do with AI.”

10:30am. Mistral AI joins forces with Luxembourg. Mistral AI co-founder and CEO Arthur Mensch used his presence at Nexus 2050 to formalise a strategic partnership with Luxembourg. “What we are seeing today are real use cases and real added value from artificial intelligence. AI can enable any citizen to access information on any subject, wherever they may be. Technological sovereignty is essential. When we deploy this type of technology, we must not only have the keys to activate it, but also be able to deactivate it at any time. There is also a strong cultural dimension, which involves working with local partners such as universities. That's why we're announcing this partnership with Luxembourg today.”

Crown Prince Guillaume said, “Luxembourg has a great advantage: its small size makes connections easier, which means decisions can be taken quickly. In my opinion, this is one of the country’s unique strengths. The word nexus means ‘connection point’: this event is a crossroads, a place of exchange and Luxembourg itself is a hub of connections. It’s a place where different nationalities meet, a strong multicultural identity. Through Nexus, the grand duchy confirms its role as a strategic entry point to the world.”

10:20am. Crown Prince Guillaume officially launched the Nexus 2050 opening ceremony. “It is an honour and a privilege to welcome you to Nexus 2050. I am proud of what we have achieved in Luxembourg. We have some of the brightest minds in front of us, proving that Luxembourg plays an important role in Europe and the world. As we stand at the dawn of a new technological era--with artificial intelligence, which can write a speech in two seconds--by the way, this speech was not written by an AI [smiles], this technology can analyse data instantly, but it can do much more. It will bring about significant changes in education, climate and many other major areas.”

A number of personalities will be taking part in the opening ceremony. , prime minister  (CSV), deputy prime minister (DP) and the mayor of the City of Luxembourg,  (DP), will be on hand to mark the official kick-off. Alongside them, a number of leading figures in global innovation have been announced, including the co-founder and CEO of Mistral AI Arthur Mensch, the CEO of Rakuten, Mickey Mikitani, and the co-founder and CEO of Pony.AI, James Peng. The first speech will be delivered by .

Luxembourg becomes, for two days, the European epicentre of tech with the second edition of Nexus. Luxexpo The Box has been hosting the first exchanges and demonstrations since 9am on Tuesday, but the event will be officially launched at 10am on the Main Stage during the opening ceremony. Backed by Luxembourg’s institutions, this major high-tech event, orchestrated by The Dots and Maison Moderne, with the support of the government, the City of Luxembourg, the Chamber of Commerce and Luxinnovation, is bringing together more than 7,000 participants, 300 speakers and 300 startups. The aim: to affirm Luxembourg’s role as a leading digital hub, connecting global tech figures and the local ecosystem.

This article was originally published in .