Key facts
- Jeff Bezos stated at VivaTech that AI will not make humans redundant.
- VivaTech 2026, in its 10th edition, is being held in Paris with AI as a central theme.
- The event attracted 200,000 visitors, including prominent figures like French President Emmanuel Macron.
- Visitors and speakers expressed a range of views on AI, from excitement about its benefits to concerns about its potential dangers.
- Innovations showcased included Google's Gemini chatbot and humanoid robotics.
VivaTech 2026, Europe's largest technology and startup event, has opened in Paris for its 10th anniversary, with artificial intelligence dominating discussions. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was a notable guest, stating his disagreement with concerns that AI will render humans obsolete. The conference drew approximately 200,000 visitors, including French President Emmanuel Macron.
Attendees and speakers shared diverse perspectives on AI. While some, like a Spanish tech worker, see AI as a tool with immense potential that requires careful handling, others expressed more apprehension. Maurice Lévy, co-founder of VivaTech, highlighted humanoid robotics as both promising and unsettling. A French student described AI as having "double edges," capable of significant benefits but also leading to undesirable outcomes.
Innovations on display ranged from Google's Gemini chatbot to audio devices for private conversations in public spaces and even personal survival capsules designed for disaster scenarios. Major French companies like LVMH, Orange, L'Oréal, and Airbus, alongside numerous startups, presented their latest advancements.