Paris: Europe’s self-declared biggest VivaTech startup event in Paris saw a surge of tech enthusiasts flocking in on Wednesday, with artificial intelligence dominating the spotlight this year.
Spanning four days, the eighth edition of the event hosts over 150,000 guests, 11,000 startups, and 450 speakers, said the organizers.
The expected highlights include former US climate envoy and secretary of state John Kerry advocating for a green tech revolution, and Elon Musk, the billionaire behind Tesla, SpaceX, and X, addressing the audience via video link.
Founder Maurice Levy emphasized that AI would be omnipresent throughout the event, while France’s Minister for Digital Affairs, Marina Ferrari, encouraged embracing AI, likening its impact to historical revolutions like printing or electrification.
Despite concerns about sentient AI and energy consumption, startups showcased AI’s versatility, from home device control to combating disinformation.
CEO Dima Gazda of US startup Esper Bionics demonstrated AI-tailored robotic limbs, aiming to attract partners, team members, and investors.
Established players like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Mistral highlighted their latest innovations, amid warnings from experts like Ben Wood of CCS Insight about potential AI fatigue among consumers.
The EU figures Thierry Breton and Charles Michel expected to attend the event, while French President Emmanuel Macron, a regular participant, is unlikely to participate due to unrest in New Caledonia, where voting rule changes faced resistance.
