VivaTech, France
France – The seventh edition of Viva Technology, Europe’s biggest start-up and tech event, kicked off yesterday, June 14th.
Spread across four days between June 14-17 2024, VivaTech is bringing together business leaders, start-ups, innovators, investors, researchers and curious minds in Paris. The motto of the event, ‘In tech we trust’, hints at how wide the scope of topics addressed is. Talks and exhibitors were categorised under eleven tracks, including deeptech & AI, retail, mobility, climate tech, gaming and more.
On the inaugural day, AI was the topic on everyone’s lips. ‘Before talking about industries, our lives are impacted by AI,’ shared François-Xavier Pierrel, Group CDO at JCDecaux Global. ‘This is the first time I can talk about tech with my stepmother.’ Even French president Emmanuel Macron, who was in attendance, made a case for the huge social impacts that artificial intelligence is catalysing. ‘When it comes to AI, we need to accelerate research, innovation and the creation of a powerful ecosystem,’ pleaded Macron. ‘At the same time, we have to take part in regulation at the broadest scope we can.’ Although the challenges AI brings weren’t excluded, the general sentiment was AI-positive and opportunity-oriented.
