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At the recent International Artificial Intelligence Exhibition in Cannes, the question jokingly asked by a visitor to the humanoid robot RoBee – « Are you able to do housework? » – brought smiles while highlighting a more serious reality. This gathering, marked by the presence of 115 countries and 220 exhibitors, highlighted the aspirations and concerns of visitors in the face of advances in AI. While some were interested in what’s new in visual content creation and automotive technology, others, like young people, were concerned about the biases and potential dangers of AI. In this context of technological transition, the House of Artificial Intelligence plays a crucial role in raising awareness and educating the public, seeking to guide multiple generations towards an ethical and responsible appropriation of AI.
During the World Artificial Intelligence Cannes Festival (WAICF), the public was able to discover spectacular advances in the field of Artificial Intelligence. Visitors questioned the ability of technologies to integrate everyday tasks such as cleaning, while the debate over the impact of AI on work and society intensified. Between wonder and apprehension, the show highlighted the opportunities and challenges of a rapidly changing technological era.
Questioning the current capabilities of AI
On the last day of the WAICF, a rather trivial but symbolic question was asked to RoBee, a humanoid robot from Oversonic: « Are you able to do housework? ». Although the nature of this question makes you smile, it eloquently symbolizes the public’s expectations and questions regarding the integration of AI into our daily lives. RoBee, specifically designed for complex industrial tasks, had to answer in the negative, illustrating that although AI is advancing at an accelerating speed, some domestic capabilities remain outside its reach.
A heterogeneous public facing technological advances
The event, welcoming visitors from 115 countries and 220 exhibitors, saw a diversity of opinions among young and old on the applications and implications of AI. Teenagers, fascinated by visual creations generated by AI, are looking into the artistic future inspired by new technologies. However, other participants, particularly seniors, expressed growing concerns about the effects of AI on employment, and its potential impact on human lives.
The transition to an AI-influenced world
The show exhibited various solutions such as the QuantaForm augmented scanner or Yolo, a real-time object detector. The House of Artificial Intelligence (MIA) has a key role in leading the public towards this technological transition, having already made 100,000 people, including 35,000 schoolchildren, aware of the realities of AI. The commitment of educational institutions is reinforced by the presence of several schools, such as Polytech and Epitech, to educate young talents to the challenges and opportunities linked to these new technologies.
Encouraging ethical and positive AI
With a focus on ethical and responsible artificial intelligence, the organization works to raise awareness among vulnerable groups, such as adolescents active on social networks prone to deepfakes and seniors, often targets of malicious manipulation. José Ammendola, director of the MIA, says that AI, despite concerns of a « great replacement », continues to create new job opportunities in various essential sectors such as medicine and education. Faced with an inevitable transformation, the emphasis is on support rather than resignation.
The inevitable future of AI
In conclusion, although AI will undoubtedly disrupt work and social life systems, it also brings a wealth of perspectives whose exploitation requires responsibility and understanding. The WAICF has proven that rather than passively undergoing this revolution, it is essential, and possible, to influence it positively so that it serves humanity.
