Meet a Student: How the Orange OpenTech Days Shaped My Vision for Data and AI

How did it feel to meet and exchange directly with Orange professionals during the Open Tech Days? 

Meeting and exchanging with Orange professionals was a very valuable experience for two main reasons. First, it gave us the opportunity to discover new roles and professions, and to better understand the tools they use on a daily basis, as well as how the concepts we study can be applied concretely in real business contexts. Second, it allowed us to gain insight into Orange’s vision of innovation, new products, and their potential future applications, which was particularly inspiring.

What did you take away from the conference “Ethical and Trustworthy AI: From Ethics to Implementation”? 

This conference helped me understand how ethical and trust-related issues are concretely addressed within a large organisation like Orange. It highlighted that, now more than ever, critical thinking is a key pillar of responsible AI usage. The conference showed that ethical considerations are not just theoretical principles, but practical requirements that must be integrated into every stage of AI implementation.

What was the most valuable or inspiring part of the Orange OpenTech Days for you personally? 

The most inspiring aspect for me was discovering how advanced and far-reaching certain technological applications can be. For example, learning that fibre-optic networks can be used to detect water leaks or electrical incidents through wave analysis was particularly impressive. It showed how existing infrastructures can be leveraged in innovative and unexpected ways.

How does this experience connect with what you are learning in the MiM - Data Science & AI for Business programme? 

This experience was incredibly rewarding, as it clearly illustrated how applicable the concepts we study in the MiM - Data Science & AI for Business programme are. Seeing how theoretical knowledge can be turned into real, innovative solutions reinforced the value of our academic training and its direct relevance to the professional world.

How has this event influenced your vision for your future career in data or AI? 

This event reinforced my belief that careers in data and AI can have a significant impact on society and business. It highlighted how crucial these roles will be in the future and showed that innovation starts with clearly identifying a problem. Once the right issue is defined, the range of possible solutions becomes almost limitless.

If you had to describe the Orange OpenTech Days in three words, what would they be — and why? 

Innovation, Future, Vision. 

• Innovation, because cutting-edge technologies were presented along with their potential applications. 
• Future, because the event addressed tomorrow’s challenges and the need to anticipate and manage them responsibly. 
• Vision, because it provided a clear overview of the many sectors in which data and AI can create value.