2024-01-08 17:08:00
Artificial intelligence (AI) will undoubtedly still be one of the technological topics of the year 2024. After ChatGPT in 2023, CES in Las Vegas, which opens its doors on January 9, will be focused on embedded AI, i.e. directly integrated into devices, whether cars, smartphones, laptops, washing machines or medical devices. Meanwhile, the European Union is working on regulations around artificial intelligence, called “AI-Act” and governing the development and use of AI systems in the European Union: member states and the European Parliament have reached agreement on rules at the beginning of last December for a text which should come into force no earlier than 2025.
Montpellier wants to exist on the chessboard of artificial intelligence. Last November, a consortium, led by the University of Montpellier, submitted a file in response to the “IA Cluster” call for expressions of interest. The State wanted the creation of a network of interdisciplinary Institutes in artificial intelligence (3IA) and four were selected in 2019 (Grenoble, Nice, Paris and Toulouse). This second call for expressions of interest should make it possible to build a network of around ten internationally renowned French academic centers in AI. In the wake of the University of Montpellier, this application led to the entire Montpellier ecosystem linked directly or indirectly to artificial intelligence: laboratories (in particular CINES, National Computer Center for Higher Education, where the state supercomputer Adastra, ranked 11th in the Top 500 global supercomputers) and companies (such as SWEEP, VOGO, ATOS, IBM Pradeo, Bfore.ai, Predict Services, Intrasense, Lundi Matin, Horiba, Weda or Numalis). The files are studied on January 8 and 9, with a response on a date not yet specified.
At the start of 2024, the University of Montpellier is making two major announcements: the imminent launch of the first standardized skills test in artificial intelligence, the AICET for “Artificial Intelligence Competence Evaluation Test”, and the upcoming arrival of a new “Computing and cloud cluster” of which part will be specifically dedicated to artificial intelligence.
The challenge: acculturating to AI
The massive arrival of AI in all sectors confronts economic players or researchers with an immense challenge: to acculturate and train the greatest number of people, in all sectors and at all levels, to understand major AI issues, whether regulatory, theoretical, technological, ethical, environmental, etc. The artificial intelligence skills assessment test designed in Montpellier is “ a unique approach in France and Europe », Says the University in a press release…
“All research laboratories and all companies increasingly need AI skills, underlines Philippe Augé, the president of the University of Montpellier. By providing a means of motivating learning, evaluating skills, monitoring progress, and detecting experts and potential trainers, this test is therefore of great importance. It will be a crucial tool to support the increase in the number of training courses offered to our students, our staff and teacher-researchers, but also to offer training and certification to other audiences. »
On February 5, the University of Montpellier, the Métropole de Montpellier and the Numalis companies (Montpellier deeptech founded and directed by Arnault Ioualalen, which develops solutions for the validation of artificial intelligence algorithms for reliable and secure AI) and BionomeeX (startup created in 2020 in Montpellier, marketing software intended for Biology research laboratories for the analysis of microscopy images and for the analysis of genetic data) will therefore launch an AFNOR Spec to offer the first standardized skills test in artificial intelligence. According to AFNOR, “ the AFNOR Spec range is designed for economic players, in particular those in innovation, who express an immediate need for a reference document, which can serve as a basis for the construction of a “classic” standard later ».
Becoming the “TOEIC of AI”
The AICET is the first assessment test in AI with a view to delivering the first AFNOR certification. Aiming to become the “TOEIC of AI”, it will respond to the growing needs of companies faced with the rise of generative AI and the arrival of European regulations on AI. Also designed to be used as part of the training of students and teachers, the AICET is intended to be a certification deployed very widely after an implementation phase in Montpellier.
« An AFNOR Spec type reference standard will make it possible to define a standardized test structure for the evaluation of a person’s competence in artificial intelligence as well as the way to complete and evolve this test over time, indicates the Montpellier University. National in scope, this AFNOR Spec then aims to be offered at the European level and then at the international level. In this respect, this standard will rely on the competence of Afnor and Numalis (whose director Arnault Ioualalen contributes to the writing of reliable AI standards at the European level, Editor’s note) which have already made it possible to bring this type of project to the ISO/IEC level. »
The test is broken down into three levels of expertise (acculturation, informed user, expert) and five categories of skills (theoretical, application, operational, legal and ethical, and general knowledge). Designed to be a living tool, the AICET will gradually be completed on the basis of successive contributions from participants. A call for expressions of interest is being organized throughout January 2024 with a view to a kick-off meeting scheduled for February 5.
10,000 users and 400 laboratories
As for the arrival of the new supercomputer, it comes in a context where digital computing solutions and the exploitation of massive data by artificial intelligence algorithms are at the heart of current scientific and technological advances. Thus, the mesocenter (set of computers whose architecture allows supercomputing) supported by the University of Montpellier within the Montpellier Data Science Institute (ISDM) provides advanced solutions to all scientific communities: more than 10,000 users and more than 400 research laboratories use it, as well as companies (for example BRLI or Predict Services for predicting environmental risks).
The supercomputer will be hosted at Cines in Montpellier, whose skills were recently praised with the arrival of the Adastra supercaculator. By acquiring this new equipment, the University of Montpellier is strengthening its capacity to meet the needs of researchers. This solution will build on the massive storage solution of 15 PetaBytes already present at the mesocenter, and widely requested by research organizations (CIRAD, INRAE, Inserm, IRD).
“We did not want to acquire the largest or most “technical” equipment, but rather the one allowing each scientist to carry out their projects with cutting-edge equipment while reconciling the desire to reduce the environmental footprint, declares Philippe Augé. We chose to invest in line with our commitment, even if it was to the detriment of the size of the machine. »
The supercomputer was chosen in particular for its energy efficiency: it will benefit from new cooling techniques using 95% lukewarm water (and not at low temperature as is currently the case).
This investment of 2.56 million euros (excluding tax) is financed within the framework of the State-Region Plan Contract (CPER) by the State (600,000 euros), the Occitanie Region (900,000 euros), the Montpellier Metropolis ( 704,000 euros) and the University of Montpellier (350,000 euros).
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