New service for the Science Bar

The flagship event of scientific culture in Montpellier, the Bar des sciences, organized by the scientific culture department of the University of Montpellier, is back for a new season. The first participatory public debate will take place on January 25 at 8:30 p.m., at the brasserie Le Dôme. The theme of the evening? "Should we be afraid of artificial intelligence? And the rest of the season to follow each month...

From January to June, the University of Montpellier organizes a monthly citizen's debate where scientists from a wide range of disciplines come together to exchange ideas with the public. Admission is free, and the event takes place in the warm atmosphere of Le Dôme brasserie, a long-standing partner of the event. After a year 2023 marked by the emergence of ChatGPT, the first event of the season, taking place on Thursday January 25 at 8:30 pm, features a highly topical theme: "Should we be afraid of artificial intelligence?

Season launch

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. Consumer giants, manufacturers of tech products, household appliances and cars are systematically embedding AI in their products. It is at the heart of the medicine of the future, industry, banking and insurance, defense and aeronautics. As for the arrival of generative AI, it is revolutionizing our relationship with machines and fuelling an inexhaustible debate between technophiles and technophobes.

So should we fear AI or, on the contrary, embrace it? To answer this question, four experts will talk to the audience:

• Alain Chavanieu, researcher at theInstitut des biomolécules Max Mousseron;
• Mathieu Lafourcade, researcher at the Montpellier Laboratory of Computer Science, Robotics and Microelectronics(Lirmm);
• David Morquin, hospital doctor and medical director of the research and integration center for digital health tools (Erios) at Montpellier University Hospital;
• Joseph Salmon, mathematics researcher at theInstitut montpellierain Alexander Grothendieck and junior member of theInstitut universitaire de France.

The season is co-produced by UM's scientific culture services and its partners: INRAE, INSERM and IRD.
This event is part of Les Halles de l'IA.

One appointment a month  

The public will be able to visit the Bar des sciences every month at the brasserie Le Dôme to enjoy the new program offered by the scientific culture department of the University of Montpellier and all its scientific partners:

• February 29: Palavas under the waves: science fiction or reality?
• March 14: A healthy microbiota for a healthy mind?
• April 25: Agroecology: the challenges of adapting to climate change.
• May 16: Horses from yesterday to today: a whole history!
• June 13: Biodiversity: the migration of plant and animal populations since the dawn of time.
• Find out more about the program on the Bar des Sciences website.