Should we be afraid of artificial intelligence?

Like the steam engine or electricity in the past, artificial intelligence is transforming our world and our society, making it one of the most strategic technologies of the 21st century.

Today, more than ever, consumer giants, manufacturers of tech products, household appliances and cars are embedding AI in their products. It is also at the heart of the medicine of the future, industry, banking and insurance, defense and aeronautics.

As for the arrival of generative AI, it represents a technological upheaval that redefines our relationship with machines and fuels an inexhaustible debate between technophiles and technophobes.

To discuss this science and society topic, four multidisciplinary experts will be on hand to answer questions from the audience:

• Alain Chavanieu, Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy (University of Montpellier). Head of the Biology-Health master's degree course in Translational Medicinal Chemistry;

• Mathieu Lafourcade, PhD in computer science, researcher at the Montpellier Laboratory of Computer Science, Robotics and Microelectronics (LIRMM);

• David Morquin, hospital doctor specializing in infectious and tropical diseases, PhD in information systems management, medical director of ERIOS (espace de recherche et d'intégration des outils numériques en santé), a unit of the Montpellier University Hospital;

• Joseph Salmon, Professor at the University of Montpellier (Mathematics Laboratory, IMAG). Junior member of the IUF, and recipient of the Camelot (CooperAtive MachinE Learning and OpTimization) Chair in Artificial Intelligence.

The Bar des sciences has become one of Montpellier's flagship events for scientific culture, offering once a month, from January to June, a participatory and civic debate on all aspects of science. Throughout the season, scientists are invited to engage in a dialogue in which their knowledge and practices are not only shared, but also discussed.

The season is co-produced by the UM's scientific culture services and its partners: INRAE, INSERM and IRD.

This event is part of Les Halles de l'IA.