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Bigger and bigger, more and more nations present, more and more speakers, more and more audience, more and more food stands and always Elon Musk.
Once again this year, Viva Technology in Paris proved to be Europe’s leading event for innovation and tech. Over 3500 exhibitors. Over 120 countries. Pretty much the United Nations of technology. The main innovations: the pavilion dedicated to sport-tech has been converted into a second pavilion to accommodate the growing demands. The connecting bridge previously intended for workshops and other activities has also become the Impact Bridge with exhibitors from the Impact world. Among the keynote speakers Serena and Venus Williams (tennis champions), Bernard Arnault (chairman and chief executive office of LVMH), John Kerry (68th US Secretary of State), Linda Yaccarino (CEO of X), Eric Schmidt (co-founder with his wife Wendy of Schmidt Sciences and former chairman and CEO of Google) and also this year, but remotely due to their son’s concomitant graduation), Elon Musk.
If last year we worried about the risks of AI, now let’s calm down. It’s done. This year, the AI takeover of the event has been accomplished. Virtually every one of the event’s countless sessions features the word AI within it. The great sages of tech have decreed the formal entry of humanity into the age of AI, which supplants that of the internet. Half of the debate sessions are on social impact and AI-themed metaphysical speculation. The marketing power of these two letters is such that even perfumes at Vivatech are made with AI. To the point that the existential question that arises is: “if it had to choose, what will the dominant AI smell like one day?”
The introduction of the AI Navigator within the app to help visitors try to find their way around this very large number of exhibitors also generates lights and shadows. A great help to save time, but on simple tasks then you lose. For example, asking the AI Navigator what the number of AI-themed sessions in the event is, you can’t get an answer, other than an indication of some topics that deal with AI. Are you ashamed to say it? It is also useless to use AI if you cannot find exhibitors inside the event because there is no mention of the fact that some are only present on certain days. And that the number of stands often does not reflect a sequential arrangement.
Since there is therefore too much on offer of content, exhibitors and AI themes, it is necessary to focus in particular on two speakers: Robin Li (co-founder, chairman and CEO of Baidu) and of course Elon Musk.
Robin Li shared with the audience some reflections on the evolution of AI from the Chinese point of view in terms of differences from the Western approach. In fact, Baidu, the Chinese Google, launched the Ernie Bot chatbot in March 2023, which has been added to the various ChatGPT, Copilot, etc., and which to date it says has 200 million users (i.e. about twice as many as ChatGPT). The focus at the moment in China for Baidu is more on finding super apps or native AI apps that can actually use the potential of AI rather than on the development of AI itself.
If you want to know the secret of Baidu’s success, it is to be found in the fact that the search engine was built to be natively based on AI and natural language. While the secret of Ernie’s success in China is precisely the fact that it has been trained on Chinese data for the Chinese market, so much so that Li admits that while handling requests in English in this language, the chatbot performs inferior.
ElonWorld
Despite the sense of immensity in front of the number of innovations presented at the fair and the thousands of ideas presented in the countless speeches, then everything was scaled down in a simple video call of questions and answers with Elon Musk, who with the simplicity of a good American family man (who did not go to Paris in person to be able to attend his son’s graduation) managed to give a series of information on impressive future developments of its businesses. All he needs is to paint the Mona Lisa and start writing in a mirror image.
- Social media: advises all parents to limit the use of social media to their children as social networks will increasingly be developed by AI aimed at maximizing the dopamine effect of the same.
- Neuralink: Before too long, Neuralink’s current findings could lead to blind people seeing and paralytics walking. And above all, to allow humans to be able to compete with AI in some way by bypassing the standard sensory interface (eyes, ears, etc.). In a nutshell, if you hook your brain directly to advanced interfaces, you can get data to you faster and think faster.
- SpaceX: Don’t worry, it simply said that within five years it will take men to the moon and within seven years to Mars. Yes. He said so. Pack your bags. To take mankind to a new level is its greatest desire. Also to avoid the extinction that will arrive inexorably sooner or later on Earth.
- AI: the current main AIs are not functional to the good of humanity because they are trained to be politically correct and therefore generate false results (such as the portrayal of President Lincoln as if he had been black). This could lead to devastating decisions with respect to humanity, such as preferring nuclear war to violence against a single woman. Looking to the future, Elon is optimistic, and 80% predict a future of abundance where everyone will be able to choose their occupations with AI-insured goods. But the remaining 20% catastrophic scenario is enough to make AI his biggest concern, so he decided that rather than stand by and hope that everything goes well, he would develop his own AI: “X AI.” The differentiating basis will be the principles of truth and curiosity. Curiosity could allow AI to spare the human race by virtue of the desire to see how it will progress itself in the future. Truth is obviously a more complex concept, but it will rely on statistical probabilistic principles to define what is most probabilistically true. And to top it all off, he will try to develop the funniest AI possible (funniest > or even: endowed with a high sense of humor). So if one day he kills us all, we will die with a smile.
Robotech
The presence of droid/humanoid robots this year was also relatively modest, although with a few more ideas than in the past. Curiously, the public was significantly more interested in the Tesla Cybertruck than in the humanoid Optimus.
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Even more curious is the interest in MIROKAI, the manga droid by Enchanted Tools that has bewitched adults and children alike with its incredibly fascinating look. Intended primarily for hospitals and nursing homes, the founders hope to see it in hotels, airports and wherever a kind and friendly face can welcome and help the public.
The trend of sympathy robots is also worth the podium for ONYRO, the robot bartender by IPSUM Tek.
Always present are the now overseen dogs/horses (quadruped) robots, which generate almost a yawn until you see the representative of the Chinese Unitree Robotics riding one (model B2) and you understand that the day they give it a unicorn look your daughter will absolutely want one.
In conclusion, the market is not yet focused on droids, but we are getting there. And the adoption of humanoid robots in our society (B2C) will be faster if, rather than creating more humans, companies bring characters from the fantasy world such as cute goblins, fairies and unicorns.
Sport-tech
This year, it should be noted that the pavilion dedicated to sports has been abolished and the presence of sport-tech in general has been reduced compared to the previous edition. Inside the stand of Zero1ne (Hyundai Motor Group’s acceleration program), won over by the usual South Korean kindness of the manager Yoonjae Lee, I was able to try the technology supporting the Korean Archery Association for the analysis of the heartbeat in the preparation for shooting through sensors inserted in the handle. Spreading panic in the booth when I turned to talk to the nocked arrow.
The spotlight this year was taken by Bhout, a Brazilian FitTech startup led by Mauro Frota that has developed a smart punching bag that transforms shots into points and allows you to compete remotely with other athletes from all over the world. For now offered in B2B, but from next year also B2C for three thousand euros.
Even table football has not been spared by technological evolution, so much so that at the AWS booth it was possible to play a game with a complete analysis of game data in real time. A new cult of sports data analysis.
Healthtech
In addition to the countless AI applications supporting doctors, nutritionists, fitness experts, the prominent notes emerged from Corpalhealth and U1st Vision (Software Republic – open innovation project of Atos, Dassault Systèmes, Renault Group, STMicroelectronics and Thales).
Corpalhealth presented a concept of “Health Companion”, a sort of avatar installed on cars (now increasingly digitized) to assist the driver in four dimensions: chronic diseases, health monitoring, behavior modifications and even meditation. All aimed not only at safety: preventing accidents due to drowsiness, heart attacks, etc., but also helping the driver in moments of waiting (charging or other) to relax through meditation. Obviously, in case of discomfort, a diagnosis will not be made by the AI, but the onset of symptoms will give the possibility to contact a doctor and then possibly ask the vehicle to go to the nearest emergency room.
U1st Vision, on the other hand, revolutionizes the concept of mobility services by transforming it into IN mobility services. That is, through a revolutionary multi-service module transported by an electric commercial vehicle (FlexEVan), services can be brought directly to citizens. The module presented at Vivatech this year allows you to bring equipped mini clinics anywhere in the city to provide health care and prevention services.
Mobility
Mobility has always been a staple of Vivatech. Compared to 2023, the trend of electric vehicles is confirmed with growth in the Asian presence in addition to French manufacturers (primarily Peugeot and Renault). Audi is a bit subdued this year, while Tesla has the dominant presence with all its models including the Cybertruck
Great attention from the public at the Peugeot stand for the Hypersquare concept with futuristic lines
Certainly noteworthy is the very nice and first car with the eyes of DEN present at the stand of the French South Region and the Lightyear 0 that mounts solar panels on the bonnet, roof and trunk.
Particular attention is paid to the beautiful NAMX designed by Pininfarina with refill with removable hydrogen cylinders.
A bit of disappointment from the world of two wheels with very few models on display. Elegant retro presented by Maeving.
The only interesting idea comes from Boon H2, who presented his rechargeable hydrogen bicycle at home. Some facts: the bike weighs 20kg, and the bottle of hydrogen to be inserted into the frame about 2kg. Range of 60km. It comes with a home generator the size of a small microwave oven and is priced at around four thousand euros. Consume distilled water
Also subdued is the presence of Air Mobility, which is suffering in its B2C side from the timing of its use. Present, however, as usual is Volocopter, which seems to maintain its leadership in the race of the sector, with its Volocity in its latest version.
Very nice Airbus EVTOL VR simulator for sightseeing flight.
A special mention goes to the team at TUC , a Turin-based company that has developed a modular plug & play system to customise vehicle interiors. It may be a coincidence, but the two times I passed by I found first Toyota and then Ford talking to the founder Ludovico Campana.
Robo mobility
In robotic mobility, it is worth mentioning the Zilus, an all-terrain robot by Sabi Agri , Naio technologies with its small OZ440 farmer robot, but also the BK Fire firefighter vehicle present at the Algeria stand and the AI powered solutions by Suez Digital for the internal monitoring of water pipes and drains.
Mobility for people with disabilities
The most interesting solution in mobility for the disabled comes from Scewo with its electric wheelchair capable of climbing steps.
Fashiontech
As usual, the scene was dominated by LVMH, the real host of the event, with its central pavilion where the main innovations of the group’s maisons were exhibited as well as the best startups nominated for the LVMH Awards. Here everything is AI powered, even the beautiful tree generated with the help of generative AI that dominates the center of the stand. The super popular LVMH Awards saw the following startups win in the various categories: Amplify (sound solutions for companies), Aectual (recycling for interior design), Fancytech (GenAI for commercial video creation), Glanceable (AI for customer experience), Authena (anti-counterfeiting and traceability of products with AI), Heralbony (artistic licenses for corporates generated by artists with disabilities).
Womentech
Among the most interesting startups for the world of new mothers, the French Perifit was present with its prominent products: a pelvic floor trainer (with its app) and a breast pump launched on the market in 2024.
Among those that could be included in the sacred marketing texts instead the other French startup that with its brand FAVA aspires to be the ally of female intimacy. With a wide variety of products.
Defensetech
These days obviously the pavilion of the French “Ministère des Armées” gains visibility where the avatar of the modern soldier stood out and hit the Esport station with a machine gun ready to shoot.
Gametech
Not a lot of news in this area, certainly not core for Vivatech. But one gadget really depopulated with the public so much so that it was impossible to try it given the full waiting list for the duration of the event: the MotionXP 600F simulator. An advanced controller for flight simulations (e.g. F18) to live the Top Gun experience in your own home.
AR/VR/edutech
There are many solutions in this area, it is impossible to try them all, but two ideas must be given. First, let’s talk about Meta. The pavilion is a bit small considering the ambitions. Three chances to try out the latest AR/VR headset. In collaboration with Porsche, which exhibited its Macan EV, it can be viewed in 3D VR via the headset. Sure, there are interesting applications, but the graphics resolution still leaves something to be desired compared to other solutions. Even in the fitness demo, the weight of the headset is still not very convincing to me, at least to me. It is worth noting that at the end of the demo you are asked to answer three simple questions of which the last one makes you think: “Do you think Meta’s best days are here or have already passed?”. Up to you, the readers, is the difficult answer.
On the other hand, the one who has a clear future is VisionFlow, which has launched Talkit. A native AI app to not only learn a language, but to live it through immersive experiences even through a VR headset.
Italian presence
Like every year, the Italian presence was coordinated by the Italian Trade Agency with its own pavilion with dozens of startups from all over Italy. The Italian stand hosted a presentation of the national ecosystem where the audience was able to receive a concise and careful overview by Paola Bonomo (IAG), Enrico Cattaneo (MIT Technology Review Italia), Domenico Nesci (Deep Ocean Capital), Filippo Piazza (Angelini Ventures), Giancarlo Vergine (Over Ventures), Valentina Bonomo (L&B Partners), Fabio Ugolini (TrueScreen), Maicol Verzotto (Source).
(Francesco Mantegazzini is an innovation and corporate venture capital consultant for the FNM Group)
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