What is the ultimate goal of innovation? Speakers at the opening keynote of OpenTech 2025 agreed that innovation shouldn’t be pursued solely for the sake of technological advancement or market disruption. Instead, it should drive human progress for all. This principle needs to guide efforts in innovation – both at Orange and in the wider world.
“Innovation only matters if it serves progress,” says Bruno Zerbib, Chief Technology & Innovation Officer at Orange. “Progress is more than technology. It’s about creating outcomes that solve real problems for real people and elevate the human condition. Innovation should not be about the next product or the next feature. It should be about shaping the future we believe in.”
Innovation should drive human progress for all. This principle needs to guide efforts in innovation – both at Orange and in the wider world.
Innovation must solve real problems for people and create long-term societal value, rather than merely causing short-term disruption. Key to this is elevating the quality of life in areas such as safety, health, autonomy and inclusion. Ultimately, innovation must deliver confidence, trust, simplicity, and shared value – for all of us.
Rapid pace of AI innovation
Today, much of the discussion about innovation centers on AI. The speed of AI-driven innovation is unprecedented, exceeding even the early days of the internet. “This breakneck pace of innovation is driving widespread economic and technological disruption, which means that the innovation playbooks of yesterday simply don’t apply anymore. There is no time to test, reflect, or understand, and there is a danger that people can be left behind,” warns Zerbib.
There is competitive pressure to succeed in AI innovation, but this must also be balanced against ethical and environmental responsibility. For large organizations, such as Orange with 125,000 employees and 300 million customers, this is particularly relevant. Because responsibility increases with scale, large companies should define a long-term trajectory for AI innovation, rather than simply chasing incremental features.
Responsible use of AI
Part of this long-term trajectory for innovation in AI is using it responsibly. Fundamentally, AI should augment human capabilities, freeing people to focus on higher-value, more meaningful work – and humans should remain in control. “At Orange, we believe AI is not about replacing people. It’s about augmenting their jobs and making them more meaningful. We don’t want to use AI when human beings can do a very good job,” explains Zerbib.
Another element of the responsible use of AI is ensuring its environmental impact doesn’t outweigh the benefits. To understand this, users must have insight into the carbon cost of AI. For example, the Live Intelligence multi-LLM platform from Orange enables users to select the most energy-efficient models for their project.
Elizabeth Tchoungui, EVP Corporate Social Responsibility at Orange says that a focus on sustainability guides the choices that the company makes. “Each time we want to deploy an AI solution, we measure its carbon impact. And sometimes we drop a solution because the environmental cost is too high,” she says.
Reinforcing trust in AI
A recurring theme in the keynote was that companies and users need to trust AI. They must have confidence that their digital interactions are secure and that the output can be trusted. This requires transparency around how AI systems are built and used, which is not always the case in current AI innovations.
Aside from the issue of hallucinations that LLMs can produce, AI can also be used by bad actors to undermine trust. This includes AI-powered scams, phishing and deepfakes. “There is no zero risk, but we have to find a way to reduce risk, and sometimes we use AI to protect ourselves from AI,” says Zerbib.
Education and inclusion
Digital literacy is crucial for establishing trust in AI. Individuals, employees, and citizens must understand AI’s strengths, limits, and risks to use it responsibly. This makes education the strongest antidote to fear and hype around AI, empowering people to collaborate with AI rather than feel threatened by it.
“AI is a technology that helps people accomplish more: that’s the history of technology,” explains Greg Hart, CEO at Coursera and a former leader of the Alexa program. He states that AI plays a crucial role in shaping the learning services that Coursera offers. “We’re moving toward a world where learning can be completely personalized for every individual,” Hart adds. It enables company leaders to offer continuous learning opportunities for all employees, supporting upskilling and curiosity at all levels.
Growth and responsibility are intertwined
The speakers all agreed that responsibility is not a brake on growth – in fact, they are inseparable. Long-term economic success depends on sustainable performance that benefits all citizens, rather than just a few. Impact measurement must shape decisions, influence investments, product choices, and technology adoption rather than serving as a reporting afterthought.
Innovation must also benefit the entire world, including the fast-growing markets in Africa, where investment choices must be tailored to the local market. “Africa is young. People have dreams, hopes, and expectations—and innovation must help them achieve those dreams,” said Yasser Shaker, CEO at Orange Middle East & Africa.
Frugal innovation can play a key role in delivering on these dreams, by prioritizing impact over sophistication. This simple, purpose-driven innovation is effective in environments with limited infrastructure, income, or resources, addressing real-world constraints. It creates “right-sized” solutions that deliver essential value, such as connectivity, energy, education, and financial inclusion, without unnecessary complexity or cost.
