Background and objectives

Artificial intelligence dominates and fascinates the whole world. Some see it as an opportunity for development and growth, while others see it as a threat to humanity. But what is artificial intelligence? Artificial intelligence refers to machines or algorithms that learn from their own experience and are capable of performing tasks once carried out by humans (Bhaumik, 2018; Broussard, 2018; Perrault et al., 2019). It is first and foremost a scientific discipline (combining computer science, mathematics, engineering and statistics) and a field of research to which an academic community has been dedicated for over 50 years (Asimov, 2001). Interest in this science is growing all the time, thanks to the big data and computing power of modern computers (Benavent, 2016; Tambe , 2014). It relies primarily on machine learning, extracting operational knowledge from data, and deep learning, which uses multi-layer neural networks to solve complex problems, such as image recognition or machine translation (Demir, 2022). As a result, the boundary between the real and the virtual is becoming increasingly blurred. According to experts, the world is experiencing a new form of domination driven by artificial intelligence: that of algorithmic capitalism, which is profoundly transforming our lives (Battaler & Harris, 2016; Sousa, 2022). They cite as evidence the massive interest and investment of technology giants in artificial intelligence, its use in the military, mining, finance, HRM, climate change, health, agriculture, law, in the optimization of management processes (Arena et al., 2018; Davenport et al., 2020; Kretschmer, 2020; Rock, 2019; Lacroux, and Martin-Lacroux, 2021; Trottier M et al.,2024). The harnessing of massive data and the rapid development of artificial intelligence are bringing about major changes in society and the global economy (Enholm et al., 2022). Indeed, it is expected to help boost global productivity and growth, and increase incomes worldwide (Cazzaniga et al., 2024). However, it can also be a source of problems, as the Cese (2024) rightly reminds us: "the immaterial has material consequences, bringing both solutions and problems". Intellectuals such as Sadin (2023) go even further, expressing concern about the triumphant rationality of "technoliberalism", including artificial intelligence, and promising "a vegetable future for humanity". 

Moreover, AI tends to widen inequalities between rich and poor countries for some experts. In this sense, a recent IMF staff report (Cazzaniga et al., 2024) analyzes the potential impact of AI on the global labor market. Their conclusions are quite strong, as almost 40 % of jobs worldwide are exposed to AI particularly high-skilled jobs. Consequently, AI will pose greater risks for advanced countries than for developing ones. 

Thus, for the IMF, in wealthy countries, AI could impact around 60 % of jobs versus 40% of jobs in emerging countries and 26% of jobs in developing countries. The report's findings suggest that AI will result in less immediate disruption in emerging and developing countries, which have neither the infrastructure nor the skilled workforce to reap the benefits of AI. This imbalance will contribute to accentuating the digital divide and deepening inequalities between countries over time. These challenges underline the need for appropriate governance frameworks, change support strategies, and monitoring tools to ensure responsible and effective AI integration. They are also a reminder of the importance of multidisciplinary research, integrating not only technology, but also law, social and political sciences, and management, among others. Faced with these opportunities, challenges and threats, this international symposium aims to explore the multiple dimensions of AI applied to organizational management, particularly in the African context. To this end, the symposium has the following objectives:

• Take stock of the AI tools best suited to organizations in Africa.
• Propose practical solutions to optimize organizational and decision-making processes
• Promoting responsible and ethical adoption of AI;
• Exploring the societal and regulatory implications of AI in Africa;
• Contribute to innovative local solutions and business creation;
• Compare practices to limit the digital divide and economic and social inequalities.

To achieve these objectives, this scientific symposium, one of the first on the subject in West Africa, will focus on the following themes.