Opportunities but also threats… what about Generative AI today?

We live in fascinating times.

We are witnessing unprecedented technological acceleration. The figures speak for themselves: it took ChatGPT 2 months to reach 100M users, compared with 9 months for TikTok. This is an absolute record.

This massive adoption reflects the power of the technology behind ChatGPT and its accessibility for users. The simplicity of its user interface is a major factor in its success, making the technology accessible to all.

ChatGPT is to AI what the iPhone has been to mobile phones.

Just as the iPhone revolutionized the way we interact with cell phones by introducing an intuitive user interface, Chat GPT is changing the game by making interaction with conversational AI simple and accessible to a wide audience.

The vast majority of us have probably had fun testing ChatGPT, experimenting with the prowess of artificial intelligence. Reactions to this technology are varied: some are fascinated by its capabilities, others are deeply resistant or scared by its potential.

From my point of view, this advance is both exciting and worrying.

As with every major technological advance, Orange is there to support its deployment. We were there with the telephone, creating links between people. We've been there with the Internet, developing access to information for all. We've been there with social networks, making everyone a media player and content producer. Today, generative AI presents itself as a new stage of transformation for businesses, of which telcos are an integral part.

Artificial intelligence is now having an impact on us too, shaking up all industrial models. In fact, it will play a key role in the realization of our #LeadTheFuture strategic plan, particularly in three key areas:

• Network intelligence: AI will help us manage complex information, data flows and anomalies within our networks.
• Customer experience: AI will help us personalize and improve the customer experience.
• Operational efficiency: it will create a chat-based interface, offering our employees simplified access to all the systems they interact with on a daily basis.

Nevertheless, it is essential not to confuse the support of AI deployment and the adoption of this technology with the absence of critical questioning.

After all, the stakes are immense.

Generating an image like that of the Pope in a Balanciaga down jacket may make you smile. However, the implications become far more serious when we consider falsifying an advertisement to sabotage a brand, or using an AI-generated phone call to swindle someone, organize a cyber attack, or even destabilize international relations.

At present, generative AI is largely dominated by American digital giants. This raises crucial questions of sovereignty, technological dependence and data control for Europe and european companies. While the open-source approach has enabled meteoric progress in the field of AI, the major players have recently shown a certain reluctance to share their research, for fear that this powerful technology could fall into the wrong hands.

It is against this backdrop that the AI law currently being drafted in Europe could prove promising. By establishing rules for risky AI systems and promoting controlled environments, it aims to protect European citizens.

However, we must not allow this regulation to hamper innovation in Europe. It is vital to stimulate European innovation that respects our rules, while enabling us to remain competitive with American and Chinese hyperscalers.

Compliance with AI ethics, and in particular with EU ethical principles, is a necessity. Indeed, our ambition is to make ethics not a brake, but a driver of innovation. Ethics must be our compass.

Finally, a last challenge to address is undeniably energy costs caused by AI. The resources required to run these systems on a daily basis are considerable. A striking example is ChatGPT, whose daily operating cost is estimated at $700,000. Reducing the carbon footprint of artificial intelligence is a major imperative.

Let's not forget that every technological revolution brings its share of risks and challenges. But it is precisely in these moments of disruption that the greatest opportunities are to be found. This is an opportunity for France, French & European companies and Europe as a whole to chart their own course, to position themselves as leaders in generative AI, and to shape a future where ethics and innovation go hand in hand.