Manpower at Vivatech: AI Serving Humanity, Not the Other Way Around

On the occasion of Vivatech, ManpowerGroup is highlighting an approach to artificial intelligence that prioritizes the transformation of work rather than its destruction. As AI increasingly takes hold in businesses, human resources find themselves at the heart of this shift, particularly in recruitment, skills management, and training. The combination of technology and human input will be central to the activities planned by ManpowerGroup during this event.

Since the rise of generative AI, one question persists: how many jobs will artificial intelligence destroy in the coming years? ManpowerGroup, with its privileged position as an observer of the evolving world of work, aims to advocate a different vision at Vivatech this year. Valérie Beaulieu-James, Chief Growth & Innovation Officer, emphasizes that the fear of job loss often obscures a more nuanced reality. According to her, the real challenge is to understand how AI is already profoundly transforming the world of work, rather than focusing solely on its potential for job destruction.

This transformation is no longer theoretical. In France, more than six out of ten employees already use AI several times a week in their professional activities, according to the Boston Consulting Group. The tool is now integrated into daily practices, well beyond technical jobs. Companies have moved past the initial frenzy phase to enter an era of maturity, seeking to identify use cases where AI can add value.

Valérie Beaulieu-James explains that this transformation is both organizational and technological. Some tasks are automated, others accelerated, and some evolve through a combination of human intervention and algorithmic assistance. ManpowerGroup thus offers companies mappings to identify the skills to develop and future recruitment needs. "Today, we provide, partly thanks to AI, mappings for companies so they can define which tasks fall into which category, what skills need to be developed within their teams, or which positions they will need to recruit for in the future," she illustrates.

As part of this transformation, ManpowerGroup advocates the principle "Human first, digital always." AI, far from being an end in itself, becomes a tool serving humanity. Paradoxically, it helps to re-humanize certain tasks, particularly in recruitment. For example, AI enables efficient management of applications by sending automated confirmation emails, which reassures candidates. "When we receive 200 emails for the same job posting, it’s hard to take the time to respond: it exceeds typical human capabilities. Thanks to artificial intelligence, we can anticipate an email confirming the receipt of an application: it may not seem like much, but it’s nice to know that everything has been sent and received properly; it’s reassuring," recounts Valérie Beaulieu-James.

Moreover, automated forms and conversational formats help to better understand candidates beyond their resumes, allowing for the discovery of talents that may have been overlooked. This goes beyond the simple "summary of skills" to identify the real strengths of a profile and perhaps give a chance to candidates who might not have been considered otherwise.

A partner of Vivatech since its inception, ManpowerGroup will present concrete demonstrations of the application of AI in the world of work. The booth will feature tools developed by the group as well as innovative startups selected for the Startup Challenge, which will showcase their solutions focused on AI applied to work and recruitment. Chosen from over 200 applications received for the Startup Challenge, these startups will pitch their AI-centered solutions related to work, recruitment, and candidate experience.

Discussions with clients and partners are also planned, addressing topics such as inclusion, diversity, and support. On Saturday, the group will engage with the general public, offering practical advice for writing resumes, succeeding in interviews, and contemplating career changes. A "job dating" event will conclude the gathering, providing an opportunity for quick professional encounters. After addressing businesses and innovation stakeholders, the group will focus on engaging with another audience: the general public. A day dedicated to practical advice for writing resumes, succeeding in interviews, reflecting on career changes, and also a "job dating" event, designed like speed dating but 100% professional this time, will thus conclude the 2026 edition of Vivatech for ManpowerGroup.