Upcoming Conversations: Emotional Intelligence and Affective AI at the Heart of Tomorrow’s Challenges

The Institut Louis Bachelier, in partnership with the Fondation BNP Paribas, is pleased to announce the next edition of the Conversations À/Venir, which will take place on Tuesday, June 9, from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm at the Collège de France (11 Place Marcelin Berthelot, 75005 Paris).

This new session will explore a topic at the heart of current technological transformations:
“Emotional Intelligence and Affective AI: Scientific and Ethical Challenges”

Registration link: https://evenium.events/r2c7ct14

A topic at the crossroads of technology and humanity

As artificial intelligence continues to advance, a central question emerges: can machines truly understand human emotions—or merely simulate them?

Today, some AI systems can analyze voice, facial expressions, and language to detect emotional states. Yet this capability raises a fundamental issue: where is the boundary between algorithmic interpretation and genuine emotional intelligence?

This question is all the more critical as these technologies become increasingly integrated into everyday life—from voice assistants and companion robots to educational tools.

A keynote by a leading expert

The event will open with a keynote by Laurence Devillers, professor at Sorbonne Université and a specialist in human-machine interaction.

A leading researcher in affective AI, Laurence Devillers has spent many years working on emotion recognition by artificial systems and its societal implications. She is also actively involved in ethical discussions surrounding AI, particularly regarding transparency, manipulation, and trust.

Author of several books on the subject, she plays a key role in public debate on the impact of emotional technologies and advocates for the responsible development of these systems. Her expertise offers valuable insight at a time when AI is becoming increasingly embedded in human interactions.

Four key areas of focus

The keynote will be structured around four main themes:

• The foundations of emotional intelligence in the age of AI: what machines truly understand about human emotions—and their limits
• The state of the art in affective robotics: from healthcare robots and conversational agents to educational tools and child-oriented devices
• Ethical challenges: emotional manipulation, human attachment to machines, transparency, and trust
• Toward responsible coexistence: integrating these technologies into society while respecting human values and European digital sovereignty

A discussion to deepen reflection

The keynote will be followed by a roundtable discussion moderated by Guillaume Ledit, featuring several speakers (to be announced). This exchange will provide an opportunity to further explore the issues raised and confront different perspectives.

Event program

• From 4:30 pm: Doors open
  (Vigipirate plan: visual bag checks)
• 5:30 – 5:35 pm: Introduction
  by Marie Brière, CEO of the Institut Louis Bachelier, and Isabelle Giordano, Head of Philanthropy at BNP Paribas and Managing Director of the Fondation BNP Paribas
• 5:35 – 6:15 pm: Keynote – Emotional Intelligence and Affective AI: Scientific and Ethical Challenges
  by Laurence Devillers
• 6:15 – 7:15 pm: Roundtable and discussion session

A moment to anticipate future transformations

Through this edition of Conversations À/Venir, the Institut Louis Bachelier and the Fondation BNP Paribas offer a valuable space for reflection on ongoing transformations.

Understanding the interactions between human emotions and artificial intelligence is no longer solely a scientific question—it has become a major societal issue, reshaping how we relate to technology, trust, and what it means to be human.

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