Launch of PostGenAI@Paris: AI at the Heart of a Scientific and Societal Ambition

On April 1, 2025, Sorbonne University and its partners officially launched PostGenAI@Paris. Based in the heart of Paris, this interdisciplinary and cross-sector consortium aims to develop ethical, inclusive, and sovereign AI, fully aligned with the major challenges of our time.

At the Réfectoire des Cordeliers, in front of nearly 300 guests, the inaugural evening of PostGenAI@Paris marked a turning point for the French artificial intelligence ecosystem. Led by Sorbonne University through its SCAI (Sorbonne Cluster for AI), this new consortium brings together 16 academic partners and more than 60 industrial partners in a resolutely collaborative approach.

"This evening marks an important moment, as it celebrates the achievement of our AI cluster – SCAI – which is now the heart and driving force of a major consortium with unique scientific potential," said Nathalie Drach-Temam, President of Sorbonne University, in her opening remarks.

A Structuring Ambition in the Service of Society

PostGenAI@Paris is one of the winners of the "IA-Cluster" call for expressions of interest from the French National Research Agency, benefiting from €35 million in funding over five years as part of the France 2030 plan. Its ambition: to establish in Paris an internationally recognized hub for post-generative artificial intelligence, capable of addressing the scientific, ethical, and societal challenges posed by this technological revolution.

"Artificial intelligence is now everywhere: in science, industry, and society. It is redefining how we conduct research, transforming our teaching methods, our practices, and our institutions," emphasized Gérard Biau, Director of SCAI, in his opening speech. "We must support this evolution, envision new ways of teaching, transmitting knowledge, and generating insights."

This message resonated throughout all the speeches: AI cannot be separated from its applications. Its development must be accompanied by rigorous reflection, strong ethical foundations, and a commitment to sharing knowledge with both citizens and decision-makers.

"AI offers tremendous opportunities to address the major challenges of our time. But we must support its development with a better understanding of what it is—and what it is not," reminded the President of Sorbonne University. "Our responsibility is to deepen our critical perspective on AI applications and to apply the rigor and ethics of scientific inquiry to its development."

An Evening of Art, Science, and Dialogue

To illustrate the creative potential of AI, the evening began with an immersive experience blending technology and art. Obvious, a trio of artists pioneering the exploration of artificial intelligence’s possibilities, presented their video entirely generated by AI. This dreamlike, multisensory, and multidimensional journey takes the audience through the landscapes transformed by AI—from fundamental physics to visual arts, medicine, law, and cultural imagination.

This was followed by an inaugural lecture by philosopher and mathematician Daniel Andler, who emphasized the essential role of the humanities and social sciences in both understanding and utilizing AI. Philosophy, he reminded the audience, has a rightful place in this field. "Through its branches—philosophy of science, mind, language, and ethics—it can act as a ‘gadfly,’ highlighting tensions, controversies, and revealing the vitality of a constantly evolving domain."

His remarks paved the way for the discussions that followed during a roundtable bringing together experts from academia, applied research, and education:

• Bruno Sportisse, CEO of the National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology (INRIA)
• Muriel Touaty, Partner in Education, Research & Innovation at Onepoint
• Jean-Philippe Cointet, Professor of Sociology and Director of the Institut Libre des Transformations Numériques at Sciences Po

These exchanges provided a platform for scientific, industrial, and policy perspectives on AI. They also highlighted the richness of a deeply interdisciplinary ecosystem, exemplified by the diversity of stakeholders brought together within the consortium.

A Consortium at the Crossroads of Disciplines

"With PostGenAI, we are now bringing together a community that goes beyond university boundaries," stated the President of Sorbonne University.

"The challenge for our cluster is significant: no less than bringing together 16 academic and institutional partners and more than 60 industrial partners," added Gérard Biau. "Behind these numbers are talents, ideas, and ambitious projects waiting to intersect and enrich one another."

Led by Sorbonne University, PostGenAI@Paris brings together members of the Sorbonne University Alliance (Sorbonne University, the University of Technology of Compiègne (UTC), the National Museum of Natural History (MNHN), INSEAD, CNRS, Inria, INSERM, IRD) and other leading academic institutions with complementary expertise. These include AP-HP, Paris-Panthéon-Assas University, Cnam, Sciences Po, the Cour de Cassation, IRCAM, IEA, Onera, the Paris Mathematical Sciences Foundation, and the Economic, Social and Environmental Council.

"Innovation never happens in isolation; it is the result of collective effort and continuous dialogue between disciplines, sectors, and curious, passionate minds," Gérard Biau reminded the audience. "The success of our cluster will depend on our ability to transform this incredible diversity into a dynamic ecosystem—one where research and innovation continuously fuel each other, where knowledge flows freely, and where everyone finds their place and role."

This cross-sectoral approach is embodied in 21 Collaborative Acceleration Programs (PACs) that integrate research, education, and innovation, along with three key focus areas:

• Generative AI and Disruptive Technologies, with applications in engineering, fluid modeling, and robotics.
• Health and a Desirable Future, in collaboration with AP-HP and the National Hospital of Quinze-Vingts, focused on robotic surgery and deep learning applied to healthcare.
• Resilient Society and Education, with projects in justice, geospatial intelligence, and augmented pedagogy.

Demonstrators to Showcase AI in Action

During the event, the audience had the opportunity to explore several demonstrators that concretely showcased the advancements driven by the consortium's partners.

Heudiasyc Laboratory from the University of Technology of Compiègne unveiled a first public road test experiment, focusing on a key challenge for autonomous vehicles: merging into a roundabout. The Obvious artistic collective presented Portal, an interactive real-time generation experience with AI. ISIR (Institute of Intelligent Systems and Robotics) showcased a robotic manipulation demonstrator accessible to non-specialists. Finally, the startup Beink highlighted Beink Dream, its visual collaboration solution, where images become a true universal language.

A Federated Community for a Shared Future

The inauguration of PostGenAI@Paris has laid the foundations for an ecosystem at the crossroads of disciplines, sectors, and perspectives. By bringing together fundamental sciences, industrial stakeholders, cutting-edge technologies, healthcare, humanities, and societal concerns, PostGenAI@Paris establishes itself as a model capable of addressing the profound transformations of our society.

"Today, we celebrate an important milestone, but it is also a new beginning. So, together, let us continue to build, innovate, and dream," concluded Gérard Biau.

With this collective momentum, Sorbonne University and its partners aim to make PostGenAI a key player in European scientific and technological sovereignty, and a lever to think about – and build – a future where AI will truly serve the common good.