AI’s Double-Edged Sword: Innovation and Employee Training at VivaTech

At the VivaTech trade show in Paris in mid-June, artificial intelligence (AI) dazzled researchers, recruiters, and engineers alike with its latest innovations. Far from the Alps, L’Oréal is using generative AI to cultivate edelweiss and endangered Asian plants. The RATP (Paris Transport Authority) manages its automatic car washes, and Bouygues is building faster than ever thanks to AI-accelerated data analysis.

However, the event also served as an opportunity for companies to reiterate the importance of employee support, especially given that tool adoption is outpacing employee training. According to the Association for the Employment of Executives, only one in four executives has received AI training.

Surveillance or Support?

Is it about surveillance, control, or support? “We’re not at the stage of policing yet, because companies aren’t fully aware of everything employees can do with AI,” notes Mickaël Vandepitte, HR product director at the SME Septeo. But the lack of AI literacy and tool mastery is a new source of risk. “AI has democratized abruptly, with legitimate concerns from companies about data leaks, even economic espionage,” remarks Benoît Serre, former vice-president of the National Association of HR Directors.

Data Leaks and the Need for Education

“Customer service representatives, finding that it makes their lives easier, don’t wait to be trained. Initially, we had data leaks of the ‘user manual’ type,” admits Nourdine Bihmane, CEO of Konecta, a multinational specializing in customer experience. “These were resolved by implementing technical controls and educating people on how the tools work.” To regulate usage, human resources managers are developing rules, charters, control methods, and awareness policies dedicated to the “education” of the workforce.

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