AI: Between Unlimited Progress and Environmental and Societal Crises.
A session of “Trials of the Century” moderated by François Saltiel.
Featuring Lou Welgryn, activist and executive director of Data for Good.
As the construction of data centers is booming at the expense of natural and suburban areas, people are speaking out and citizen opposition is gaining traction.
While artificial intelligence seems to promise immortality, infinity, and boundless progress—with ever-increasing amounts of data, knowledge, speed, and power—it is far from being disembodied and requires human and natural resources, energy, and space to function. And it comes up against our own limitations—both environmental and societal.
So, to what extent are we willing to view it as progress and make room for it? Between the climate crisis, innovation, and digital sovereignty, do we really have to choose sides? AI, “ to infinity and beyond ” ?
After the meeting, join us for a signing session at the Mucem Librairie-boutique.
François Saltiel is a journalist, author, teacher, and producer
François Saltiel is a journalist, author, teacher, and producer. Since September 2021, he has been the producer of the programs *Un monde connecté* (Monday through Thursday) and *La Fabrique de l’information* (Friday) on France Culture, which each week aim to spark debate about the future and examine the new technologies that are reshaping our society. Previously, he produced the program *Le Meilleur des mondes* for three seasons.
A television journalist (for theprograms “28 Minutes” on Arte and “C Médiatique” on France 5), he is also a co-founder of the production company Art2voir, which develops documentaries, podcasts, and fiction. Finally, he is vice president of the film education association Txiki Productions and has been teaching journalism and audiovisual production at the Sorbonne Nouvelle and IFP Paris 2 since 2005.
As an author, he published his first essay with Flammarion in 2018, *The Tea Seller Who Changed the World with a Hashtag*, followed in 2020 by *The Contactless Society: A Selfie of a World in Decline*, and in August 2025 by *Making Peace with Our Screens* with Virginie Sassoon, also published by Flammarion.
Lou Welgryn, Executive Director of Data for Good
Lou Welgryn is the executive director of Data for Good, an organization of tech-savvy citizens who use their expertise to advance social and environmental justice and protect our democracies.
She also co-founded Éclaircies and ESSEC Transition Alumni to build a community of engaged alumni dedicated to helping the school accelerate its ecological transition.
In May 2026, she published *AI: The Great Smoke Screen* with Payot Publishing, co-authored with Théo Alves Da Costa, president of Data for Good.
AI: Between Unlimited Progress and Environmental and Societal Crises.
A session of “Trials of the Century” moderated by François Saltiel.
Featuring Lou Welgryn, activist and executive director of Data for Good.
As the construction of data centers is booming at the expense of natural and suburban areas, people are speaking out and citizen opposition is gaining traction.
While artificial intelligence seems to promise immortality, infinity, and boundless progress—with ever-increasing amounts of data, knowledge, speed, and power—it is far from being disembodied and requires human and natural resources, energy, and space to function. And it comes up against our own limitations—both environmental and societal.
So, to what extent are we willing to view it as progress and make room for it? Between the climate crisis, innovation, and digital sovereignty, do we really have to choose sides? AI, “ to infinity and beyond ” ?
After the meeting, join us for a signing session at the Mucem Librairie-boutique.
François Saltiel is a journalist, author, teacher, and producer
François Saltiel is a journalist, author, teacher, and producer. Since September 2021, he has been the producer of the programs *Un monde connecté* (Monday through Thursday) and *La Fabrique de l’information* (Friday) on France Culture, which each week aim to spark debate about the future and examine the new technologies that are reshaping our society. Previously, he produced the program *Le Meilleur des mondes* for three seasons.
A television journalist (for theprograms “28 Minutes” on Arte and “C Médiatique” on France 5), he is also a co-founder of the production company Art2voir, which develops documentaries, podcasts, and fiction. Finally, he is vice president of the film education association Txiki Productions and has been teaching journalism and audiovisual production at the Sorbonne Nouvelle and IFP Paris 2 since 2005.
As an author, he published his first essay with Flammarion in 2018, *The Tea Seller Who Changed the World with a Hashtag*, followed in 2020 by *The Contactless Society: A Selfie of a World in Decline*, and in August 2025 by *Making Peace with Our Screens* with Virginie Sassoon, also published by Flammarion.
Lou Welgryn, Executive Director of Data for Good
Lou Welgryn is the executive director of Data for Good, an organization of tech-savvy citizens who use their expertise to advance social and environmental justice and protect our democracies.
She also co-founded Éclaircies and ESSEC Transition Alumni to build a community of engaged alumni dedicated to helping the school accelerate its ecological transition.
In May 2026, she published *AI: The Great Smoke Screen* with Payot Publishing, co-authored with Théo Alves Da Costa, president of Data for Good.
The Trials of the Century: A Podcast Series
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Le Procès du siècle, délibérations citoyennes !
Comment parler des bouleversements récents qui touchent nos vies, nos sociétés, notre environnement ? Que disent-ils de notre rapport au temps et à l’espace ? Comment nous situons-nous aujourd’hui au cœur du monde et du vivant ? Quelles mutations, quelles révolutions sont à espérer ou à craindre ?
Le Procès du siècle appelle à la barre plaignants, accusés, témoins et avocats. Il en appelle avant tout à ses jurés, les citoyens.
Les Procès du siècle — Luttes en partage
La saison 3 des Procès du siècle en podcast
Une série de rencontres imaginée et produite par le Mucem en collaboration avec Grégoire Ingold.
Un podcast produit et réalisé par Copie Carbone et illustré par Benoît Guillaume
Les Procès du siècle — Oser l'utopie
Cette quatrième saison des Procès du siècle propose d’explorer les utopies concrètes et réelles, les nouveaux modèles à inventer pour avancer vers plus de démocratie, plus d’écologie, plus de solidarité.
Pour vivre mieux, ensemble.
Cette saison 4 parlera d’éducation, de soin, de numérique, d’économie, d’architecture, d’agriculture, de circulations, de respect, de consentement, d’intelligence artificielle, des arbres et des oiseaux. Nous essaierons même parfois d’en rire.
Les procès du siècle — Féminismes, genres, minorités.
Une série de rencontres imaginée et produite par le Mucem.
Réunissant témoins, spécialistes et pièces à conviction, Les Procès du siècle ouvrent un espace d’échanges citoyens.
Après une première saison consacrée aux questions environnementales, cette deuxième saison est dédiée aux minorités dominées, et à leurs manières de s’exprimer, de résister, de revendiquer leurs droits.