VivaTech 2024

As usual, after every innovation and emerging technology event I have the chance to attend, I like to share my perspective, discoveries, favorite highlights, and observations with you.

So, let’s dive into this 2024 edition of Viva Technology, held in Paris from May 22 to 25. Together with Jonathan, we’ll do our best to walk you through the key things you shouldn’t have missed this year.

VivaTech, a trade show growing bigger and more visible every year

Much like the CES, VivaTech is always an intense experience to visit.

Like CES, the three-day event offers the opportunity to discover or reconnect with partners and startups, exchange ideas, and take the pulse of innovation and emerging technologies.

Like CES, it’s unfortunately impossible to visit every booth and attend every talk in such a short amount of time.

But is VivaTech really comparable to CES? And more importantly, is that comparison useful?

That certainly seems to be the organizers’ ambition, judging by the extensive communication around the event. And to be fair, on some figures VivaTech does rival CES:

• 165,000 visitors this year (+10% compared to 2023), the highest attendance in the show’s history, versus around 140,000 visitors at CES earlier this year.
• Prestigious speakers and guests (Yann LeCun, Elon Musk, the Williams sisters, the French Minister of Agriculture, and many more).
• Strong international representation, with attendees from more than 160 nationalities.

Still — and this is only my opinion — comparison doesn’t necessarily make sense.

First, if we compare the number of exhibitors, there were fewer than at CES this year (3,500 exhibitors versus more than 4,300 in Las Vegas), with some sectors largely absent from this edition, especially automotive manufacturers and suppliers. And when it comes to groundbreaking announcements, brands rarely use VivaTech as a stage for major reveals.

Ultimately, while three days are nowhere near enough to fully explore CES, they are more than enough for VivaTech, whose exhibition space remains considerably smaller.

But once again, why compare at all?

To me, VivaTech is a unique event in its own right, with the merit of democratizing technology and innovation by opening its doors to the general public on Saturday. The organization improves year after year — I particularly appreciated this year’s country-based areas, which were even more numerous and visible.

That said, VivaTech can sometimes feel underestimated by certain industries or brands that are highly present at CES (with the exception of major French groups, which continue to invest heavily and show up in force). For example, there was very limited representation from the automotive sector, despite mobility being announced as one of the key themes of the show.

In any case, VivaTech has clearly become a MUST-ATTEND event for anyone wanting to understand technological trends and the key forces shaping innovation. It’s French, it has become Europe’s largest tech event, and it offers a very clear vision of the technological perspectives ahead.

And speaking of perspectives, this year there was one word on everyone’s lips: AI, AI, AI… and more AI.

The show’s central topic was everywhere — sometimes visible, sometimes hidden in the background. AI has already been useful and widely used for years, but it is no longer just a trend; it is becoming a necessity for any company that doesn’t want to fall behind. Sustainable technology, environmental innovation, and health-related solutions also stood out as major themes of this edition.

Mobility

A missed opportunity for some…

As mentioned earlier, it was disappointing not to see stronger enthusiasm or engagement from automotive manufacturers this year. Renault skipped the event entirely (just like CES, by the way). Peugeot attended with only one concept vehicle: the Inception Concept.

This futuristic electric vehicle features Hypersquare technology, a touchscreen steering system inspired by smartphones that uses steer-by-wire technology instead of a traditional mechanical steering column. It includes a 100 kWh battery with a range of up to 800 km and fast charging capable of recovering 150 km in just five minutes.

The Volkswagen Group had very limited visibility, mainly through Audi, which showcased its new electric model: the Audi Q6 e-tron.

The vehicle offers a range of up to 625 km with battery capacities reaching 100 kWh and charging from 10% to 80% in approximately 21 minutes. During the event, Audi announced that the car could recover 255 km of range in just 10 minutes of charging.

It is worth noting Tesla’s first-ever appearance at VivaTech, where several vehicles from its lineup were showcased.

The Cybertruck remained as impressive as ever, alongside more mainstream models such as the Model 3, Model Y, Model S, and Model X.

Tesla also displayed its Optimus robot, although only in a non-functional version.

That said, I heard many people describe Tesla’s presence as a first for the event, despite the fact that Tesla had already attended WAICF in Cannes earlier this year for the AI-focused trade show. So it wasn’t a European premiere — only a VivaTech premiere.

verall, we were left wanting more when it came to mobility. In previous editions, we were used to seeing many more flying drones, electric vehicles, and urban mobility concepts. Still, a few interesting innovations stood out.

Hydrogen remains among the future energy solutions

NamX introduced the HUV (Hydrogen Utility Vehicle), an innovative concept featuring a dual hydrogen tank system composed of a fixed tank and six removable capsules, offering a total range of 800 km. The removable capsules make refueling quick and convenient, even without traditional hydrogen stations.

Airbus is also investing heavily in hydrogen technology through its ZEROe hydrogen fuel-cell engine designed for zero-emission aircraft.

Using hydrogen fuel cells, the system generates electricity to power the aircraft’s electric motors. This technology promises to significantly reduce CO₂ emissions by using hydrogen as a clean energy source.

The ZEROe engine, currently undergoing ground and flight testing, is a key part of Airbus’ ambition to launch commercial hydrogen-powered aircraft by 2035.

Personally, I don’t believe hydrogen will become the primary replacement solution in transportation, if only because of its efficiency compared to electricity — roughly four times lower — and because green hydrogen production remains far too expensive today.

That said, I do believe hydrogen will be part of tomorrow’s energy mix alongside electricity, nuclear energy, and still some fossil fuels… for as long as they remain available.

Electric motorcycles

Every innovation event seems to feature one or two electric motorcycle concepts. This year, the spotlight was on Maeving, a British company manufacturing urban electric motorcycles.

These compact bikes, equivalent to 50cc and 125cc models, feature removable batteries with ranges of up to 80 miles and prices between €6,500 and €8,500.

Curvway showcased all-terrain electric surfboards capable of riding across forests, mountains, and urban roads. The experience feels somewhat similar to snowboarding, although it definitely takes some time to master balance and acceleration…

As for VTOL aircraft, the only model on display was the already well-known Volocopter, whereas previous editions usually featured three or four different transport or delivery drone concepts.

Robotics

A staple category at every innovation event, robotics was once again strongly represented this year through assistance, inspection, and delivery robots.

Ipsumtek showcased ONYRO, an autonomous service robot designed for hospitality, catering, and event management.

ONYRO can serve customers, transport objects, and navigate autonomously thanks to advanced safety systems. Equipped with artificial intelligence, it can understand and execute tasks without human intervention.

United Robotics Group introduced CobiotX, designed for industries including healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. Robots such as Plato use AI to assist humans with daily tasks.

And finally, the now-unavoidable Mirokaï by Enchanted Tools, the French company founded in 2021 that stands out thanks to its cartoon-inspired appearance and its ability to interact naturally with humans, making machines feel more approachable and less intimidating.

Green tech, tech for good

This is definitely a category gaining more importance every year. These innovations increasingly leverage artificial intelligence to minimize humanity’s environmental impact. This includes sustainable technologies focused on fighting climate change, as well as startups like Bioteos, which uses algae to improve air quality.

Among the solutions we found particularly relevant and interesting:

Seabex uses artificial intelligence and data analytics to optimize agricultural irrigation. Their Agrisense platform combines satellite imagery, vegetation indexes, and weather forecasts to provide precise recommendations.

All this data, combined with AI, helps optimize water management, improve yields, and promote more sustainable agriculture.

It’s yet another example showing that when data collection and AI are used correctly, they can produce highly beneficial outcomes. As always, the possibilities are endless — you just need to imagine them.

Another startup we particularly appreciated: HelioRec.

The company develops floating solar panels, optimizing the use of aquatic surfaces to generate clean energy.

Much like offshore wind farms, the idea is to use maritime spaces for local energy production, but with major advantages over wind turbines. Their modular technology reduces water evaporation by up to 70% thanks to panel coverage, improves water quality by limiting algae growth, and creates habitats for aquatic wildlife.

Designed for installations ranging from 10 kW to 100 MW, their systems are intended for coastal environments and support off-grid, hybrid, and boat-charging solutions, as well as partial self-consumption for port areas.

Another Green Tech example: Zilus by Sabi Agri.

This electric all-terrain robot automates agricultural tasks such as plot maintenance, soil work, and pruning.

It can operate either manually or autonomously.

I can already hear people saying this proves AI replaces jobs. Yet this innovation actually emerged because of labor shortages for repetitive maintenance operations that must be carried out several times a year.

In this case, AI didn’t replace jobs — it assists with tasks that have become so tedious that very few people are willing to do them anymore.

Another example is Agrist, a Japanese company specializing in smart agriculture that uses AI-powered agricultural robots to automate harvesting and optimize crop management.

Advanced sensors for real-time soil and plant analysis, combined with computer vision systems and machine-learning algorithms, enable the robot to navigate autonomously and make decisions regarding inputs, dosing, and complex operational tasks.

In a completely different field, L'Oréal presented a solution using bioprinting technology to create human skin samples. This method relies on 3D printers capable of layering cells to recreate skin structures. It allows cosmetic products to be tested more precisely and ethically, avoiding animal testing.

Health innovations

Once again, this is an area overflowing with innovation. Whether it’s improving diagnostics or making daily life easier for people, it’s always fascinating to see AI helping and improving our everyday lives.

Here are a few solutions that caught our attention:

FeelObject is a startup developing accessibility solutions for visually impaired and blind people, helping them move around independently. Their product, Virtuoz, is an interactive tactile 3D map designed to simplify navigation inside and around buildings. It is intended for companies, hotels, museums, educational institutions, and public buildings, improving accessibility and inclusivity.

Genexpath develops cancer diagnostic kits capable of delivering fast and reliable diagnoses for several types of cancers, including sarcomas and lymphomas. Faster detection significantly improves treatment timelines and increases recovery chances.

Once again, this clearly illustrates the positive role AI can play in our lives.

German Bionic showcased exoskeletons designed to assist workers in healthcare and industrial environments, reducing carried loads by up to 30 kg and facilitating daily tasks. However, with prices approaching €10,000, it’s uncertain how quickly these solutions will become mainstream. Hopefully, future technological advancements will make them more affordable.

And what about Quantum Computing?

Quantum computing is undeniably one of the major technological revolutions ahead. This year, the topic clearly gained visibility at the event, with several quantum computing players grouped together and multiple roundtables dedicated to AI and quantum computing.

Several key points were discussed regarding the potential advantages of quantum computers for training and running large language models (LLMs):

• Quantum algorithms: quantum computers could improve algorithms using quantum data, increasing both efficiency and accuracy.
• Algorithm quality: improving algorithms is crucial to reducing energy consumption, especially given the enormous computational requirements of LLM training.
• Tensor networks: already used to compress traditional LLMs, tensor networks could greatly benefit from quantum computing capabilities to optimize resource management and processing speed.

In short, quantum computing has the potential to revolutionize LLM training by making algorithms more efficient, reducing energy costs, and improving model compression techniques. This is definitely a field to keep watching closely in the coming years.

VR and immersive technologies

To be honest, I expected to see far more experiments and feedback involving Apple’s headset.

VR was present, with a few Meta Quest demos and some VR training experiences, but there were no groundbreaking innovations in the field. Has Apple failed to revolutionize spatial computing as expected?

Time will tell.

Rimowa developed an application for the Apple Vision Pro, integrating 3D models of their luggage products to enable augmented reality visualization and manipulation. The experience also includes realistic handle and zipper sounds to fully leverage the Vision Pro’s capabilities. Their short-term goal is to integrate Apple Pay directly into the experience.

Another example came from Sephora, which used the Apple Vision Pro for an in-store interactive game involving scented creams and face masks. Customers had to catch virtual fragrances floating toward them and classify them correctly.

Personally, I don’t really see the value of this experience, but it remains an early exploration of the Vision Pro’s capabilities, even if it wasn’t particularly innovative.

As for immersive technologies, augmented reality, and mixed reality, there were no major breakthroughs.

One company worth mentioning is Veesual, which develops AI-powered augmented shopping solutions for fashion brands. Their technology allows customers to visualize clothes on models with different body types, ages, and skin tones to better imagine how garments would fit them. The goal is to increase conversion rates and reduce returns. Their solutions integrate easily with major CMS platforms.

They are also exploring how the Apple Vision Pro could further enhance the experience.

AI, AI, AI — everywhere and for everything

The flagship technology of this year’s edition was, unsurprisingly, artificial intelligence — especially generative AI and large language models.

What stood out most was the growing verticalization of AI by industry and profession. There were countless solutions and startups focused on HR, legal services, and many other sectors, often offering highly similar products.

Chat Legal.IA offers AI-powered tools for legal professionals. Their platform includes a legal assistant capable of answering questions instantly, a Legal Design generator for creating legal infographics in under a minute, and a presentation generator capable of producing presentations in less than four minutes. They also provide more than 600 mini-assistants dedicated to specific tasks while ensuring GDPR compliance.

There was also a strong presence of AI integrated into enterprise knowledge search tools, conversational platforms, and generative AI use cases.

Tuito

Tuito develops solutions based on artificial intelligence and audio/speech signal processing. Their technology can detect sound events, simplify voice interactions, and securely leverage generative AI to access structured databases. Their flagship platform, MIVOCOM, analyzes and categorizes audio data in real time across sectors such as healthcare, industry, security monitoring, and financial services.

ChatFAQ

ChatFAQ provides an open-source conversational search platform based on Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG). The interface enables customization and management of advanced chat models integrating conversational search capabilities. The solution is designed to be flexible, secure, cloud-compatible, and compliant with international regulations such as GDPR.

PitchBOY

PitchBOY offers an interactive and engaging AI-powered training platform. Companies can easily create and deploy immersive training experiences incorporating speech recognition and custom scenarios. Designed for both training organizations and enterprises, the no-code platform simplifies the creation of onboarding programs and sales simulations.

Lampi

Lampi develops secure AI agents designed to automate workflows and business tasks in sectors such as corporate finance and consulting. Their platform leverages the latest LLMs to provide detailed and accurate answers using data from multiple sources. Use cases include report generation, data analysis, and complex process management.

Nuvatech.me

Nuvatech.me offers SANPOM, a digital fashion platform powered by generative AI. The solution transforms 2D design files into detailed 3D digital garments, enabling consumers to visualize how clothes would actually fit their body shape through digital avatars.

Conclusion — our VivaTech 2024 recap

It remains just as exciting as ever to walk through this type of event. These gatherings are powerful sources of inspiration and showcases for entrepreneurial intelligence and startup creativity. They remind us how quickly innovation is moving — perhaps even too quickly.

This edition was clearly defined by the overwhelming presence of AI, both in the showcased solutions and in the many discussions held throughout the event. But sometimes, technology advances faster than the use cases and ideas we can imagine for it.

Some solutions in recruitment, training, and education made us wonder whether they can still remain competitive in the face of OpenAI’s new GPT-4o model, especially regarding voice interaction, contextual understanding, and emotion recognition.

Still, the emergence of these models, combined with the robotic solutions presented during the event, strongly suggests that the 2025 edition could mark a major leap forward in integrating intelligent robots into our daily lives.

In robotics, we saw very concrete solutions targeting agriculture and service industries such as hospitality and food service. Beyond the marketing narrative around productivity gains and service improvements, one can also wonder whether these innovations are intended to address growing recruitment difficulties in sectors where work conditions are often particularly demanding.

On the renewable energy side, several excellent ideas were showcased, both in production and in alternatives to fossil fuels. Even if their real-world impact remains difficult to fully assess today, events like VivaTech clearly demonstrate that Greentech is booming and will continue to evolve in the years ahead.

In any case, one thing is certain: innovation and AI are now deeply interconnected. One will not progress without the other. Emmanuel Macron’s announcement just before VivaTech opened — during the “Choose France” event — of a €400 million investment to train 100,000 AI experts in France is another reflection of this reality. Even if, in my opinion, it still falls short compared to investments made by countries such as the United States or China… it’s still a start.

Hopefully, Europe will manage to position itself as a leader in AI investment and research. One way or another, the future of technology clearly belongs to AI for many years to come.

AI as a new productivity driver. AI as an aid to human thinking. AI as a catalyst for innovation.

“Artificial intelligence is not here to replace humans, but to help them surpass themselves.” — Satya Nadella

“AI is transforming every aspect of our lives, offering unprecedented opportunities to improve our world.” — Sundar Pichai