Anticipation was building in Barcelona as the city geared up for the opening day of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) on Monday, with attendees keen to check out the latest cutting-edge items during an exciting time for the tech sector. Themed 'Converge. Connect. Create,' the four-day event is expected to draw in over 100,000 visitors and feature more than 2,700 exhibitors from around the globe who will showcase innovations in artificial intelligence, 5G, and digital transformation. As the world's premier mobile technology gathering, the event typically seeks to shine a spotlight on new gadgets and technologies, from robot butlers to self-driving cars, but many big brands are also looking to use this international platform to make their mark on the global stage. Chinese tech firm Xiaomi got the party started early with the global launch of its Xiaomi 15 smartphone at the congress venue on Sunday, unveiling a product it hopes can challenge Apple's iPhone in terms of technology and performance. The MWC event is also bringing together a number of key industry figures, with organizers inviting 48 speakers to deliver speeches and offer their insights on the fast-evolving technologies which are reshaping the world. The excitement surrounding the congress is clear, with visitors expressing enthusiasm for advanced technologies, particularly AI. "I'm really excited to visit Barcelona this year because a lot of AI components is booming up, and I really want to explore and see whether that is something which may be related to our daily life," said one visitor. SHOTLIST: Barcelona, Spain - March 2, 2025 1. Various of people outside venue for Mobile World Congress (MWC); sign of MWC; FILE: Barcelona, Spain - Feb 29-March 1, 2024 2. Visitors in exhibition area of venue; Barcelona, Spain - March 2, 2025 3. Various of visitors checking mobile phones; 4. SOUNDBITE (English) visitor (name not given): "I'm very excited to see the new technologies and the new phones."; 5. Various of visitors checking mobile phones; 6. SOUNDBITE (English) visitor (name not given): "I'm really excited to visit Barcelona this year, because a lot of AI components is booming up, and I really want to explore and see whether that is something which may be related to our daily life."; 7. SOUNDBITE (English) visitor (name not given): "I'm really excited to see new developments in AI."; 8. Various of visitors checking exhibits of watches, earbuds, tablets; 9. Various of electric car from Xiaomi on display; 10. Various of people outside venue for MWC; sign of MWC. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]