Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an emerging and rapidly expanding technology, with roots dating back to the 1950s through the pioneering work of Alan Turing (2009), John McCarthy (1981) and Marvin Minsky (1961). Since its inception, AI has undergone several waves of development, evolving from symbolic systems to machine learning, and then to deep learning, which now powers applications ranging from voice recognition to personalized medicine (Gaglio & Mathieu-Fritz, 2024). AI is profoundly transforming our societies, economies, and cultures. It is redefining scientific practices, governance models, economic dynamics, forms of artistic expression, educational systems, healthcare, and social relationships (Qian, Siau, & Nah, 2024). This transformation raises complex ethical, political, environmental, and cultural issues that require an interdisciplinary approach to be fully understood and addressed (Kiyindou, 2019).

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The field of education is particularly affected by these changes. AI is deeply reshaping teaching strategies, the roles of educators, and learners’ modes of learning. It paves the way for adaptive learning environments, personalized educational pathways, and the automation of certain pedagogical tasks. However, these innovations also raise critical questions about equitable access, student data protection, teacher training, and the role of human interaction in the educational relationship (Siham et Sophia, 2024; Galindo et Pierrot, 2024). Moreover, the social sciences and humanities, including education, play a crucial role in analyzing the implications of AI: they help question algorithmic biases, digital inequalities, transformations in labor, new forms of surveillance, and issues of technological sovereignty (Ollion et Boelaert, 2015).

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Environmental sciences, for their part, examine the ecological footprint of digital infrastructures, while political and legal sciences explore the regulatory frameworks necessary for the responsible development of AI (Vinuesa et al., 2020). In healthcare, AI promises major advances in diagnosis, personalized treatment, and access to care, especially in remote or underserved regions. However, it also raises ethical concerns, issues of transparency, data security, and social justice (Duguet, Chassang, & Béranger, 2019). In this regard, the Québec government’s Plan directeur sur l’intelligence artificielle en santé 2024–2027 emphasizes the importance of strict oversight, clear governance, and synergy among healthcare network stakeholders to ensure the responsible integration of AI (Ministère de la Santé et des Services Sociaux, 2024). Furthermore, recent studies stress the need for heightened ethical vigilance, particularly regarding algorithmic biases, cybersecurity, and the complementarity between AI and human expertise (Castets-Renard & Besse, 2022).

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In this context, the specific challenges facing the Francophone world also deserve special attention. AI, as a vector of linguistic, cultural, and geopolitical transformation, presents unique challenges for Francophone regions: preserving linguistic diversity in algorithmic systems, ensuring equitable access to technologies in French, developing local AI capabilities, and actively participating in international debates on digital governance (Goddard, 2024). It is therefore essential to reflect on how the Francophonie can contribute to an inclusive, pluralistic AI that respects cultural identities. Finally, the fields of art, music, and culture are deeply impacted by the emergence of generative AI. While it opens new avenues for creation, cultural mediation, and heritage archiving, it also raises fundamental questions about authenticity, intellectual property, artist compensation, and the diversity of cultural expressions. UNESCO (2021, updated in 2024) calls for ethical governance of AI in cultural industries to ensure that technologies respect creators’ rights and cultural plurality.

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This conference aims to explore these multiple facets of AI within a space for interdisciplinary reflection and dialogue, bringing together experts from the fields of education, science, technology, environment, health, law, economics, politics, diplomacy, Francophonie, arts, music, and culture. By intersecting these diverse perspectives, it will help better understand the global impacts of AI and collectively envision how it can effectively contribute to a more enlightened, inclusive, and equitable common future. To address these issues, discussions will be organized around the following three thematic groups:

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Discussion Themes​

The discussions will focus on the following three thematic groups:

1. Education, Research, Innovation, Environment, and Health:
   AI in teaching and learning for students and professional development for educators; the role of AI in scientific research, technological innovation, and ecological transition; AI applications in diagnostics, medical treatments, and healthcare system management.

2. Law, Economy, Politics, and Diplomacy:
   Legal frameworks, individual and collective responsibilities, ethics, and fundamental rights in the age of AI; transformation of labor, markets, and economic models; algorithmic governance, public policy, and digital democracy; AI in international cooperation, digital sovereignty, and geopolitics.

3. Francophonie, Arts, Music, and Culture:
   Representation of the diverse Francophone world in AI systems; assisted creation, new forms of expression, and aesthetic and cultural challenges.​

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Activities during the conference​

The conference will feature symposium sessions, open paper presentations, poster presentations, panel discussions, artistic performances (including dance), award ceremonies, and a guided tour of Ottawa's key touristic attractions.​​

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Modes of Participation​

We invite researchers, practitioners, and experts from various fields to submit proposals addressing, but not limited to, the topics listed below. All proposals must include a summary of 350 to 500 words, a short biography of the author(s), and be submitted no later than September 12, 2025. Proposals are accepted in both French and English. They must meet the quality criteria defined by the scientific committee and may fall into one or more of the following categories:

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• Symposium Presentations: Contributions may address one or several issues related to the symposium’s theme.

  • Symposium 1 – Education

  • Symposium 2 – Science, Technology, Health, and Environment

  • Symposium 3 – Law and Economy

  • Symposium 4 – Politics and Diplomacy

  • Symposium 5 – Arts, Music, and Culture

  • Symposium 6 – Francophonie

• Open Presentations: Outside the thematic symposiums, we also accept open presentations addressing theoretical, practical, methodological, or ethical aspects of AI.

• Poster Presentations: Participants are also invited to submit posters on research projects, experiments, or ongoing initiatives related to AI. These will foster informal exchanges during the conference.​

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Topics may include (but are not limited to)​

• Education: AI and personalized learning; teacher training in AI tools; digital equity and inclusion in schools; AI and automated assessment; ethics of AI in educational contexts.

• Science, Technology, and Environment: AI for climate modeling and resource management; ecological footprint of AI technologies; AI and automated scientific research; green and sustainable AI-powered technologies; responsible AI innovation.

• Health: AI-assisted diagnostics; personalized and predictive medicine; AI and health data management; medical robotics and remote care; ethical issues in medical AI.

• Law: Legal responsibility of autonomous systems; algorithm regulation and transparency; personal data protection; fundamental rights and algorithmic surveillance; predictive justice and algorithmic bias.

• Economy: Automation and labor market transformation; AI and business productivity; new AI-driven economic models; economic inequality and the digital divide; AI and the circular economy.

• Politics: AI and public governance; algorithms in political decision-making; digital democracy and citizen participation; national security and cybersecurity; international AI regulation.

• Diplomacy: International cooperation on AI; digital sovereignty and AI geopolitics; global norms and standards; scientific and technological diplomacy; AI and human rights on a global scale.

• Francophonie: Development of AI tools in French; inclusion of Francophone cultures in datasets; AI and linguistic diversity; digital Francophonie and cultural sovereignty; Francophone collaboration in AI.

• Arts and Music: AI-assisted artistic creation; AI and new forms of musical expression; algorithmic aesthetics and human creativity; copyright and AI-generated works; AI in cultural industries.