Artificial intelligence at the University of Montpellier
At a time when artificial intelligence is profoundly transforming scientific, educational and administrative practices, the University of Montpellier has chosen to make a strategic shift. Faithful to its scientific identity rooted in health and the environment, the UM is establishing itself as a driving force in the deployment of ethical, responsible and structuring AI, at the crossroads of research, training and innovation.
Cutting-edge research at the heart and interfaces of AI
Montpellier has a number of leading strengths in AI research: trusted AI, hybrid AI, federated AI, complex data... these are just some of the topics explored in its laboratories. But the site's originality lies above all in the interaction between AI and flagship disciplines such as health and the environment.
The University relies on the pooling of strengths (Inria, business clusters) and high-performance infrastructures, such as the Montpellier Institute of Data Science (ISDM). With these assets, the ambition is clear: to make Montpellier a world-class site for AI applied to major societal challenges.
Training a generation acculturated and expert in AI
Faced with the rise of AI, the UM has made training a key part of its strategy. All bachelor's degree students will be offered an acculturation module in generative AI. Staff (teachers, researchers, administrative staff) will also benefit from basic or advanced training courses, integrated into the university's training plan.
At the same time, specialized courses in AI will be strengthened, with the prospect of new accreditations as early as 2027. In this way, the University intends to develop a community capable of combining critical thinking, theoretical and technical skills and ethical responsibility.
Administration transformed by AI
AI's potential extends far beyond the classroom and laboratory: it also affects administrative services. At the UM, AI is already being used to automate or facilitate certain tasks (writing e-mails, extracting information, chatbots for user relations). The roadmap plans to go even further, by defining a rigorous framework guaranteeing equal access, respect for ethics, data protection and digital sobriety.
The aim is to free up staff time, improve service quality and make the university more responsive and accessible.
A collective and ethical commitment
Montpellier also plays the cooperation card. In 2025, the UM became a founding member of the AI Montpellier Méditerranée association, bringing together universities, local authorities and companies to develop collaborative projects. It has also joined the Mistral AI - EdTech France - ESR alliance, which aims to design solutions adapted to higher education.
Finally, the University has defined seven guiding principles for the use of AI in training: priority to human relations, caution and critical thinking, integrity and transparency, and sharing and collaboration.
The University of Montpellier approaches artificial intelligence not simply as a technological opportunity, but as a lever for global transformation. From research to teaching, administration and civil society, every turn taken by the UM places AI on a responsible, inclusive and sustainable trajectory.
With this ambitious roadmap, the University of Montpellier confirms its determination to be an augmented campus, at the service of students, researchers and society.