For over 30 years, South by Southwest (SXSW) has established itself as a must-attend and unique global innovation festival for the creative industries. This year again, the diverse topics captivated the audience: Web3, artificial intelligence (AI), sustainable development… La French Touch was present in Austin and summarizes the three conferences you absolutely shouldn't have missed this year.

Amy Webb and the emerging tech trends of 2023

“ The internet is changing, and we’re not ready .” This is the key takeaway from Amy Webb’s highly anticipated speech. According to the CEO of the Future Today Institute, the development of Web 3 and related technologies must be accompanied by enhanced cybersecurity measures. As for the metaverse, widespread adoption is still pending, as platforms are still being optimized.

Finally, the biggest change we are going through is the shift from perceptual AI to generative AI. The latter designates artificial intelligences using existing content, in the service of their learning, to generate new ones, like ChatGPT developed by Open AI.

Greg Brockman, co-founder of OpenAI, and the future of artificial intelligence

Greg Brockman was on stage to discuss the impact of generative AI on society and the future of artificial intelligence. According to him, AI is not a threat to employment, but a valuable tool. " I think what's really interesting here is the amplification of what humans can do. It's a bit like hiring six assistants. They're not perfect. They need some training; they don't always know exactly what you want to do. But they're so enthusiastic, they never sleep, they're there to help you. They're willing to do the hard work, and you're the director ."

This optimism doesn't prevent him from remaining clear-sighted about the questions this technology raises, particularly regarding ethics. " We weren't quick enough to address the biases in ChatGPT. We didn't intend for them to be there. But our goal was really to have a system that is fair and treats all major sites the same. We've made a lot of improvements in this area over the past month ," he said. For the co-founder of OpenAI, these issues must be addressed now because AI will impact every aspect of our lives: " We are clearly heading towards a world where the internet is alive. You can talk to it, it understands you and helps you. "

Ryan Gellert and Patagonia's vision of innovation

“ For us, innovation is a series of bold steps ,” says Ryan Gellert. The Patagonia CEO shared three strategies that have made his brand a benchmark in sustainability. According to him, Patagonia began by optimizing the quality of its products to “attract the consumer ” before offering large-scale resale. But these two strategies could only be implemented thanks to an internal policy that fostered innovation. By broadening its vision to include new technologies, the brand has succeeded in reclaiming natural fibers, designing repairable clothing, and improving collaboration through open-source software.

Ryan Gellert is convinced that innovations can have a positive impact on the planet, which is a corporate responsibility. " Remember the power you have as a customer and as an employee, and make consistent decisions about it. I believe that's the most rewarding role you can play in society, " the Patagonia CEO reminded everyone.