Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence is a set of techniques and methods that enable machines to reproduce behaviours which are traditionally attributed to human intelligence.

This may include processing visual information (facial recognition), understanding and imitating human language, and modelling complex systems, such as in the field of financial engineering. In the economic sciences, one of the objectives of artificial intelligence is to reduce the uncertainties inherent in decision-making in an increasingly unpredictable world.

The challenges of artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence promises to bring some of the most important and disruptive innovations of our century. Its use enables productivity gains through automation and the development of innovative activities through automatic decision systems in complex environments. Self-driving cars, digital assistants and automated disease diagnosis are all products of an emerging AI revolution.

This technique, which could replace 14% of jobs in OECD countries (L. Nedelkoska and G. Quintini, 2018), will completely reshape the way we live and work. It is already influencing people’s behaviour and opinions through targeted communication methods, personalised recommendation systems, and handling fake news. AI therefore raises questions around its integration into society and the shocks it induces. It will thus have to be considered from a political angle, and be designed to satisfy economic, ethical and democratic principles.

Job opportunities

Quantitative analyst, consultant, data analyst, data miner, artificial intelligence ethicist

Master’s programmes at the Saint-Etienne School of Economics: Data Science and Innovation Management, Political Engineering and Territories and Transitions