On the Sophia Antipolis campus, local public actors inaugurated France’s first house of artificial intelligence (AI). A tour of the premises and demonstrations were scheduled for this event.
At 11:30 am, Charles-Ange Ginesy, president of the departmental council, takes the floor. “We will continue the digital transition through the Sophia-Antipolis House of Artificial Intelligence by developing digital equipment and applications so that the Alpes-Maritimes remain a land of the future. I am delighted that, with our partners, we can meet this challenge. We must analyze and refine data ethically to use it particularly in the fields of health and natural risk management. Long live the 1st House of Artificial Intelligence in France!”
Next up is the speech by Jean Leonetti, president of the Sophia Antipolis Agglomeration Community. A prelude to the tour of the premises, where various exhibitors came to showcase the development of their AI. “We are in a digital world, Sophia is at the forefront of this challenge. We are proud to host this house. It is artificial intelligence for everyone with a humanistic and ethical vision,” rejoices the mayor of Antibes.
AI in all its forms
As you stroll past the different stands, several uses emerge. One allows you to know the price per square meter according to the specified area, while others have found a way to enable communication for those who no longer can.
At the entrance, Spoon welcomes you to provide information and guidance within the 1000 m² of spaces. “It is an artificial intelligence embodied by a small interactive character. It can be installed in public and/or collective spaces, whether in the street, a museum, or a cultural place, it can be useful everywhere. The idea is to interact with it in the most natural way possible, thereby discovering the place and all its services associated with the collective space where it is located,” explains its creator, Jérôme Monceaux. The character directs you to the showroom or the AI Lab, a place for exchanges and collaboration for projects. Public authorities hope to achieve cross-fertilization of the AI ecosystem in the territory.
AI at the service of security
Among the various possible uses, video analysis by artificial intelligence. This is what Alan Ferbach attempted a year ago. “Our product is an embedded system that allows the detection of vehicles and people. It is installed in cities or private residences. Thus, we can relay information when an offense is committed and at the same time create statistics. The goal is to secure citizens, we mainly work with cities,” explains the company’s founder.
