• The Canary Islands Business Digitalization Fair opened today with large public attendance and 45 exhibiting companies
• Experts in artificial intelligence and digitalization agree: it’s time to get on board with AI, but training is essential

DigiON Canarias, the Canary Islands Business Digitalization Fair, opened its doors today to celebrate its third edition, focused on artificial intelligence and the latest trends in innovation and digital transformation.

DigiON is a space “for meeting, explaining innovative projects, and exchanging experiences among companies that can also showcase their potential and proposals for innovation and the incorporation of artificial intelligence and digitalization into the business world,” said the President of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Antonio Morales, after touring the more than 40 stands of companies and institutions exhibiting at the fair.

The president praised “the significant growth of local small and medium-sized enterprises” joining this event “to share their products and services with society,” and expressed his belief that “the number of people interested in the knowledge these companies offer will continue to grow,” exceeding the 2,000 attendees registered last year.

The lecture programme began with Jon Hernández, one of Spain’s most popular artificial intelligence educators through his YouTube channel @La_Inteligencia_artificial. He reviewed the history and milestones of artificial intelligence and invited attendees to discover the “cultural shift” brought by this technology: “Artificial intelligence is going to change the way we interact, the way we work, and it’s going to change everything,” he said. He encouraged listeners to ask themselves what AI can do for them, and to dive into learning more about a technology that, he insisted, is here to stay.

Similar sentiments were shared by the experts participating in the roundtable discussion “Hopes and Realities: The Impact of AI on Business”, one of the highlights of today’s programme. Noemí Brito, partner in the legal department at KPMG Abogados, stated that since her company implemented AI, employees have worked 33% faster, productivity has increased by over 70%, “freeing up time for other tasks,” and errors have decreased by over 60%.

“In short, AI adds value to companies,” said Brito, who nonetheless stressed the importance of training. On this point, Jon Hernández noted that, given the pace of AI development, “there’s no such thing as professional training unless it’s continuous.”

“We have to change the way we educate,” added Sergio González, AI specialist at Microsoft, because right now “students using AI acknowledge they are becoming better professionals.”

According to David Macías, CEO of AIOS and author of El método IA, the development of AI is so fast “it scares many people – we don’t realise how quickly this is moving – and it complicates regulation.” Regulation, he added, “is being created as a reaction to what big tech companies do, and that’s why in Europe we’re falling far behind,” agreed Jon Hernández. Sergio González added that regulation “is a necessary tool to define what can and cannot be done, offering a clear framework from the outset.”

Hernández reminded attendees that “AI doesn’t only affect companies, it also affects individuals and can help in many areas.” “It’s not just a tool, it’s a cultural shift that changes what we do and how we interact — it’s not just about productivity,” he said.

During the roundtable, the experts also addressed ethical questions in the use of AI, particularly about privacy, intellectual property, image rights… but all called for its appropriate use to harness its potential and stand out fully.

While many attendees listened to these AI and digitalization experts, others visited the Speakers’ Corner to quickly hear technological proposals or the latest digitalization trends presented by various companies. Throughout the day, short 15-minute talks covered topics such as artificial intelligence, big data, SME digitalization, governance, and many other aspects of digital transformation.

In the commercial exhibition area, 45 companies will continue to present their most innovative and disruptive technological solutions in sectors like automation, robotics, artificial intelligence, and software development until tomorrow. The Business Digitalization Fair brings together tech consultancies advising SMEs, companies offering innovative solutions for a wide range of needs, and disruptive products designed to help businesses become more efficient.

The event also facilitates pre-arranged B2B meetings where companies and professionals can connect in person and explore potential business opportunities.

DigiON Canarias is an initiative by the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, organized by Infecar, with support from Cajasiete, the Gran Canaria Chamber of Commerce, and the Canarias Excelencia Tecnológica ICT Cluster.

The event will continue this Thursday, April 3, with new talks on digital intelligence and business digitalization, along with two highly anticipated roundtables: “Challenges and Opportunities of AI in the Canary Islands”, featuring several distinguished professionals from the archipelago: Miguel Peñate, head of Mobile Applications at Google for nine years and founder of ReplyNext; Romina Ojeda, co-founder and CEO of Reboot Academy, creator of Edukami.ai, and president of the Women In STEAM Empowerment Canarias Association (WISE-C); and David Macías.

DigiON Canarias will conclude with the roundtable “2025: Digitalize or Die?”, where Romuald Fons, CEO and founder of BIGSEO and one of the most influential international marketers, will join Toni de la Pietra, director of the Advanced Technology Center at Accenture for Spain and Portugal, and Sara Maldon to share key insights into the future of business digitalization and discuss why driving digital transformation — with AI at its core — is vital for companies.