Artificial Intelligence and Social Justice
On June 11, the École normale supérieure welcomed Sasha Luccioni, AI and Climate Researcher at Hugging Face, for a landmark lecture as part of the “Social Justice and Artificial Intelligence” Chair, of which she is the new holder. This chair is a joint initiative of ENS, its Foundation, the Abeona Foundation, Université Laval, and the OBVIA network.
The Butterfly Effect of Artificial Intelligence
Entitled The Butterfly Effect, the lecture explored the systemic impacts of AI on the environment, society, and the economy. Sasha Luccioni advocated for a broader understanding of sustainability—one that extends beyond ecological concerns to include the social and economic effects of technology.
Today, AI can track CO₂ emissions, map biodiversity, and develop innovative materials. Yet it also generates a significant carbon footprint, drives digital consumption, and concentrates power in the hands of a few major players.
A Critical and Committed Approach
Sasha Luccioni examines the social consequences of AI:
- What knowledge is lost when tools like dictionaries or maps are replaced
- Who is excluded when technological innovations benefit only a minority
- What is the human cost of the robotization of agriculture or targeted advertising?
She calls for democratic and inclusive AI governance, capable of objectively assessing both its benefits and unintended harms, using new, multidisciplinary, and transparent evaluation tools.
“AI doesn’t need more energy—it needs less concentration of power.”
“We can still steer AI in a different direction by changing how we conduct research and develop these technologies.”
A Priority for ENS and Its Foundation
This lecture is fully aligned with ENS’s strategy: to foster interdisciplinary research on the contemporary challenges of artificial intelligence.
Each year, the “Social Justice and Artificial Intelligence” Chair aims to bring disciplines into dialogue, combine scientific expertise with social engagement, and encourage critical reflection on the technologies shaping our present and future.
Through these concrete initiatives, ENS reaffirms its commitment to studying and guiding artificial intelligence in the service of the common good.