THE DIGITAL TRANSITION: IMPACTS AND DEPENDENCES

Why this study?

The term “digital transition” is synonymous with a significant increase in digital devices, today artificial intelligence is broadening and deepening its impact on all aspects of life.

The digital transition is a historic process of changeover to the Internet that began at the end of the 20ᵉ century. Today, digital technologies can be found at every level of our daily and professional lives. Digital transition refers to the path towards the digitisation of information systems. In other words, it’s the integration of digital technologies into the way society works. This true digital revolution implies imperatives such as the transformation of practices, dematerialisation and the need to rethink the organization and culture of our societies.

The arrival of AI poses a new challenge for the digital transition. Indeed, AI stems from the digital transition insofar as this technology opens up perspectives that were unimaginable even ten years ago. AI enables data governance through the implementation of automated analysis processes. In particular, through the creation of autonomous systems such as machine learning. Consequently, this report aims to reflect on the impacts and dependencies arising from both the digital transition and the transition to AI.

What are the dependencies and societal impacts that will arise from the digital transition and the transition to AI?

A key question is what societal impacts and dependences will result from it. This is the subject of this report. Some impacts and dependences, such as those in the financial and environmental spheres, are well known and will only be recalled here, while other, less obvious ones, in the social, ethical, political and geopolitical, democratic and sovereignty spheres, will be discussed in greater detail.

This report draws on a wide range of national and international analyses and expert contributions to answer the following questions:

  • What is the place of human, social and sovereignty aspects in the paradigm of the digital transition and the transition to artificial intelligence?
  • How should we respond to these changes?
  • What are some possible solutions?

These solutions are based on education, the development of critical thinking and of the relationship with truth, ethics by design, and the possible implementation of global regulation.

To read the report :

To read the executive summary: