Ton Guardiet, CEO of Acceleralia, gave a conference entitled ‘Impact of the metaverse and AI on the future of work’, which was attended by students from all faculties to reflect on the opportunities, challenges and key skills that will define the future of work in an increasingly technological world.

Having founded three companies, Guardiet has shared his vision of how the metaverse and artificial intelligence are revolutionising work. “We are in a moment of exponential change. You either disrupt or you will be disrupted,” said Guardiet, who stressed the importance of adapting to new technologies so as not to be left behind.

During the session, the entrepreneur addressed the major technology trends for 2024, highlighting artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic process automation (RPA). “AI is not only one thing; there are many types, and each should focus on a specific skill or functionality,” he explained.

The metaverse has also occupied a place in the talk. Ton Guardiet explained how his company Acceleralia has offices in a virtual environment, hiring engineers and technicians from all over the world. “The metaverse is not a single layer; it is a complex ecosystem that redefines how we work and collaborate,” he said.

Guardiet closed the session with a reflection on the role of AI in decision-making. “There are 100% non-delegable human tasks that cannot be replaced by an AI agent, but other executive decisions can. Leveraging technology will give you superpowers,” he concluded.

Presentation of the Startup Pioneer Programme 2024

The second part of the session was dedicated to presenting this year’s Startup Pioneer Programme (SPP), by Cristina Tresserres, director of the B-Excellent programme at UIC Barcelona. The programme, aimed at students from all faculties, seeks to foster entrepreneurial spirit and provide the necessary tools to face the challenges of the future of work.

The session will continue on Wednesday 5 February at the Sant Cugat campus for the students of that campus.