News
October 22, 2026
Arts et Métiers Forum 2026
Artificial Intelligence, Digital Sovereignty, and the Jobs of Tomorrow: Equans Digital’s Vision at the Forum des Arts et Métiers
Raphaël Contamin has participated in the 2026 Arts et Métiers Forum to discuss AI and the future of engineering
On October 20, 2026, Raphaël Contamin, Director of Equans Digital France, spoke at the 47th edition of the Arts et Métiers Forum, one of France’s most important events dedicated to future engineers and industry leaders. Held at the Parc Floral de Paris, the event brought together nearly 4,000 students and recent graduates around a central theme:“Engineers: The Driving Force Behind a Creative, Innovative, and Human-Centered Industry”.
During the roundtable discussion “Artificial Intelligence: Reinventing Industry”, Raphaël Contamin shared Equans Digital’s vision on the transformations driven by AI in industrial sectors, the challenges of digital sovereignty, and the skills that will shape the engineers of tomorrow.
Artificial intelligence is transforming the engineering profession, without replacing engineers’ expertise
The rise of generative AI, predictive analytics, and automation is profoundly changing work methods in the industry. However, technology does not replace the engineer.
During this conference, Raphaël Contamin emphasized that AI is changing expectations of engineering professionals rather than replacing them. Technical skills remain essential, but they must now be accompanied by an increased ability to analyse, evaluate, interpret, and manage increasingly intelligent systems.
While tools are becoming capable of generating recommendations or automating certain tasks, judgment, decision-making, and responsibility remain profoundly human. Engineers continue to play a central role in validating technical choices, managing risks, and creating value for the company.
Industrial AI is already a reality on the ground
Far from futuristic projections, artificial intelligence is already producing concrete results in many industrial settings.
Raphaël Contamin shared insights from the project conducted with Saint Louis Sucre, where predictive models make it possible to anticipate the performance of beet production campaigns. By leveraging industrial data, teams have access to advanced indicators to improve decision-making and optimise their operations.
This approach illustrates Equans Digital’s vision: pragmatic AI that drives industrial performance, operational efficiency, and support for field teams.
Digital Sovereignty: A Strategic Issue for Businesses
Beyond technological capabilities, the conference also highlighted an issue that has become central to many organisations: digital sovereignty.
Choosing an artificial intelligence solution is no longer just a matter of comparing features. Businesses must also consider data localisation, hosting infrastructure, governance models, and new regulations governing AI.
These choices directly influence organisations’ ability to maintain their autonomy, protect their strategic information, and control their digital trajectory. For Equans Digital, AI must be part of a responsible and controlled approach capable of balancing innovation, regulatory compliance, and sustainable value creation.
- Optimise operational performance through advanced industrial data analytics.
- Improve decision-making through predictive models and management support tools.
- Anticipate risks and deviations before they impact production.
- Leverage the expertise of business teams by providing them with actionable information in real time.
- Accelerate the digital transformation of industrial sites while maintaining control over processes.
Training engineers capable of shaping the industry of tomorrow
One of the central questions of the roundtable discussion focused on the skills that will be expected of future engineers. In the face of constantly evolving technologies, technical expertise remains essential, but it must be complemented by new skills:
- Understanding the mechanisms and limitations of artificial intelligence.
- Developing a systemic view of industrial challenges.
- Manage and interpret data.
- Maintain a critical perspective on the results produced by algorithms.
- Integrate ethical, environmental, and regulatory considerations into decision-making.
- Foster collaboration between human expertise and digital technologies.
In this context, the engineer of tomorrow will need to combine innovation, responsibility, and adaptability to support the industry’s transformations.
Artificial Intelligence for a More Efficient, Responsible, and Autonomous Industry
At Equans Digital, we are convinced that AI is a powerful driver of innovation when combined with strong business expertise and appropriate governance.
From industrial use cases to data monetisation strategies, including digital sovereignty challenges, our teams support organisations in integrating artificial intelligence solutions capable of generating concrete and sustainable results.
Would you like to explore the potential of AI for your organisation?
Learn how Equans Digital supports manufacturers, infrastructure managers, and public sector organisations in implementing artificial intelligence, data, and decision-support solutions tailored to their business challenges. Contact our experts today.Would you like to explore the potential of AI for your organisation?
Learn how Equans Digital supports manufacturers, infrastructure managers, and public sector organisations in implementing artificial intelligence, data, and decision-support solutions tailored to their business challenges. Contact our experts today.