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The mayor of Piolenc, Louis Driey, innovated during the New Year’s greetings ceremony for 2026 by using artificial intelligence to enhance his speech. Seeking to mark his final New Year’s address after thirty years in office, he incorporated short, creative videos, which he narrated with humor, appearing in various scenes such as on a construction vehicle or even as an astronaut. These videos transformed the ceremony into an experiment where artificial intelligence was used to pay tribute to his achievements, while offering a futuristic and original perspective to the residents of Piolenc.For his final New Year’s greetings as mayor of Piolenc, Louis Driey created a buzz by integrating artificial intelligence into his speech. During this special ceremony, he showed videos in which he appeared in symbolic scenes, illustrating the actions undertaken within the municipality. These playful videos punctuated his traditional speech, captivating the attention of the residents of Piolenc. An innovative presentation Mayor Louis Driey, wishing to mark his final New Year’s address after thirty years in office, chose technological innovation to impress the residents of Piolenc. By incorporating videos generated by artificial intelligence, he created a unique experience that punctuated each part of his speech. These short videos were projected during the ceremony on Thursday, January 8, 2026. Symbolism and humor abound The remarkably realistic videos depict the mayor in unusual situations. For example, he is seen driving a construction vehicle to illustrate the various improvements made in the town, although he humorously admits to never having driven such a vehicle. Furthermore, the mayor appears underwater, on a water slide, and even on a rooftop laying tiles. Energy and CommitmentEven in digital form, Louis Driey remains true to his image as an energetic and committed mayor. On his bicycle, he declares: « After thirty years of pedaling to move the city forward, I’m still keeping up the pace, and believe me, energy is a state of mind. »
A Cosmic FarewellThe final sequence, in a lighter tone, shows the mayor as an astronaut floating in space. Louis Driey, after a career firmly grounded in reality, offered his audience a poetic flight in zero gravity. He concludes his New Year’s address by wishing his fellow citizens to keep their heads in the stars for 2026. An Intriguing Realism
Despite the videos’ fidelity to reality, some differences remain. The mayor’s physical appearance and voice are slightly altered. Louis Driey acknowledges that his avatar speaks more slowly than he does, as he is used to expressing himself with more energy.
