The French know him for his philosophy books and his televised debates. But at the start of the year, the philosopher reveals a passion for artificial intelligence. The former minister explains why, as in most areas, our lives will be upset.
RFI: AI continues to revolutionize transport. What is the most emblematic transport of the deep changes to come for you?
Luc Ferry: All. But for us, citizens, for sure, they are independent vehicles. Cars, trucks, all these transports are already managed by AI and will be even more. I tested in Paris An autonomous car. It’s really incredible. Lasers, sensors … I did not touch the steering wheel once.
Another improvement in the road sector, tell yourself, being traffic on the roads.
Yes, perfectly since the GPS tools (of the type of Waze application) allow you to have a satellite view of the roads. So they will guide you not according to the closest spaces, but the whole of your journey. By calculating the fastest and fluid option as a last resort, calculating from all the trips of all the drivers.
You like this way of seeing things. The wide spectrum.
It is incredible progress for the organization of our cities. We realize, there, time gains, therefore energy. Since the less cars roll, the less energy they consume.
Your book talks a lot about the upheaval of the industry already underway. Whatever the continent of the world, the way of thinking and making transport will change.
Yes. Engineers invent new lighter materials, therefore less energy consumers. This is true for planes as well as trains.
For this, they will have digital twins. You explain the role of the digital twin very well.
The digital twin allows engineers to analyze a bridge, a plane, a railway route without having really built it. The second option is to have this object or infrastructure clone already built to optimize the maintenance. You have to think of the digital twin as a replica exceeding 3D, the three -dimensional image.
That’s to say ?
By playing with. This virtual image on computer allows you to see your construction according to the elements that impact it. For example, storms, temperature, dryers and even the movement of the waves to calculate and choose the paths of ships. All this in real time, so imagine the money, time and security saved thanks to digital twins.
You talk a lot about AI and ecological progress for town planning and the cities of tomorrow.
AI, by calculating and bringing together a maximum of data, makes it possible to imagine cities which will have much more public transport for all and … everywhere. Connections capable of providing a means of travel wherever you are, without necessarily having your own vehicle.
For RFI auditors in Africa where in countries new energies (solar, wind, etc.), will AI make the invention of new vehicles possible?
New models, no, I don’t think. On the other hand, vehicles that will avoid the current levels of pollution that the largest capitals in Africa, Asia or elsewhere, yes. Electric vehicles are essential, they must be made in Africa. But for that, you have to help them because setting up an electrical industry is very expensive. We must all be aware that it is in interest, not only of Africa, but of all of humanity, of future generations.
AI, great replacement or complementarity? by Luc Ferry is published by the Observatory, 2025.
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