Conversations À/Venir – Emotional Intelligence and Affective AI: Scientific and Ethical Challenges

The next edition of Conversations À/Venir 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), on the theme:

“Emotional Intelligence and Affective AI: Scientific and Ethical Challenges”

The event will feature a keynote address by Laurence Devillers, followed by a panel discussion.

The development of artificial intelligence (AI) and affective robotics raises fundamental questions about the nature of emotions and their role in human-machine interactions. Today, AI systems can recognize, interpret, and simulate emotional states based on voice, facial expressions, and language. Yet the boundary between simulation and genuine emotional intelligence remains an open scientific challenge.

The keynote will be structured around four themes:

• The foundations of emotional intelligence in the age of AI: what machines can truly “interpret” about human emotions, and what remains beyond their reach.
• The current state of affective robotics, from care companions and conversational assistants to educational agents and toys designed for young children.
• The ethical challenges raised by these technologies, including risks of manipulation, emotional attachment, and the requirements of trust and transparency.
• The conditions for responsible coexistence between humans and affective machines, particularly in the workplace, as well as the importance of European digital sovereignty.

Programme

From 4:30 PM – Doors open
Vigipirate security measures apply: bags will be subject to visual inspection.

5:30 PM – 5:35 PM | Welcome remarks

• Marie Brière, Managing Director, Institut Louis Bachelier
• Isabelle Giordano, Head of Philanthropy at BNP Paribas and General Delegate of the BNP Paribas Foundation

5:35 PM – 6:15 PM | Keynote
“Emotional Intelligence and Affective AI: Scientific and Ethical Challenges”

• Laurence Devillers, Professor at Sorbonne University and researcher specializing in human-machine interactions

6:15 PM – 7:15 PM | Panel discussion and audience Q&A
Moderated by Guillaume Ledit (Journalist)

Speakers:

• Grégoire Darcy, PhD Candidate in Cognitive Science, École Normale Supérieure
• Nadia Guerouaou, PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience, Psychologist and Speaker, CNRS Centre for Internet and Society
• Su Yang, Head of AI & IT Innovation and Head of AI for Transaction Banking, BNP Paribas

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