AI: Power or Caution?
On Thursday, December 3, 2026, the Maison de l’Avenir in Geneva will host a participatory event focused on the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence. Under the theme “AI: Power or Caution?”, this event—organized as part of the City of Geneva’s 2026 Climate Week—will feature an innovative format: a citizens’ debate prepared with experts and evaluated by a jury of policymakers. The goal will be to compare perspectives on the transformations brought about by AI and the collective choices they entail.
Artificial Intelligence: Weighing Technological Promises Against Societal Challenges
Caught between the acceleration of innovation and the need to regulate its use, artificial intelligence raises questions that go far beyond the purely technological realm. This event will invite participants to examine its benefits, its limitations, and the responsibilities associated with its development. Rather than a series of lectures, the program will emphasize a participatory approach, structured around three key components:
- 6:15 p.m. – Debate preparation: Participants are divided into two teams, each guided by experts to develop their arguments. The experts mentoring the teams will ensure a wide range of perspectives are covered, from sustainability to entrepreneurship to training, with notable participants including Jean-Pierre Lambelet (LIIP), Rosendo Mañas Faura (Resilio), Matteo Mazzeri and Thanasis Priftis (HEG), Laura Tocmacov (ImpactIA), and Youness Yaghcha (LIME).
- 7:00 p.m. – Citizens’ debate in the Oxford format: a debate between opposing positions before a panel of Geneva politicians, including Ana Roch (MCG), Jean-Pierre Pasquier (PLR), Laurent Seydoux (LJS), Louise Trottet (Les Vert-e-s), and Matthieu Jotterand (PS).
- 8:00 p.m. – Summary and discussion: a review of the arguments presented, with the experts and jury members, followed by an aperitif.
For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in French-speaking Switzerland, this event will offer an opportunity to take a step back and consider the challenges associated with adopting AI, looking beyond mere performance and productivity considerations. By bringing together citizen, political, and technological perspectives, these discussions will help executives and employees reflect on the conditions for responsible AI use, the trade-offs between innovation and caution, and the societal expectations that may influence business practices.
