Born in 1962 and trained at École Polytechnique and the University of Pennsylvania, Stéphane Mallat is an emblematic figure who has profoundly influenced the field of artificial intelligence and signal processing. Passionate about applied mathematics, he revolutionized the world of images and signals through innovations such as wavelet theory, in collaboration with mathematician Yves Meyer. These contributions have enabled the development of numerous applications, essential in medical imaging, digital cinema, and gravitational wave detection. Advocating a constant alliance between mathematics and computer science, Stéphane Mallat’s work has not only improved image transformation and pattern recognition techniques but has also opened new perspectives for machine learning. Stéphane Mallat is a French mathematician whose contributions have profoundly transformed the field of artificial intelligence. Born in 1962 and educated at École Polytechnique and the University of Pennsylvania, he applied his expertise in applied mathematics to invent theories and technologies that now influence our daily lives through numerous applications of wavelets, bandlets, and the scattering transform method. Stéphane Mallat’s Career Path Stéphane Mallat, a master of applied mathematics, collaborated with mathematician Yves Meyer from the 1980s onward to develop wavelet theory. This theory allows complex signals to be decomposed into simpler parts through multi-scale transformations, thus laying the foundations for multiresolution analysis. Groundbreaking Contributions Based on his wavelet theory, Mallat developed the wavelet-based fast Fourier transform algorithm. facilitating the design of applications in diverse fields such as medical imaging, digital cinema, and gravitational wave detection. Bandlets and Matching PursuitHe also introduced bandlets to efficiently capture image geometry, particularly contours, and developed the Matching Pursuit algorithm, which offers a simplified and intuitive decomposition of signals. The Fusion of Mathematics and Computer ScienceStéphane Mallat has significantly enriched the field of artificial intelligence by creating links between mathematics and computer science. In 2001, he co-founded Let It Wave, a startup aiming to produce electronic chips using wavelets to convert standard images into high definition, thus optimizing data transmission and storage. Compilation of Works: A Wavelet Tour of Signal Processing In 2009, to synthesize his extensive research on wavelet signal processing, Mallat published *A Wavelet Tour of Signal Processing*, now an essential reference in the field. Recognition and Impact Stéphane Mallat, a professor at prestigious institutions such as MIT, École Polytechnique, and the Collège de France, is an emblematic figure among mathematicians whose theories find practical applications. In 2025, he was awarded the CNRS Gold Medal, recognizing his exceptional contributions that have permeated the daily lives of billions of people.
