From AI agents to missile escape pods: key takeaways from VivaTech Paris 2026

From AI agents to missile escape pods: key takeaways from VivaTech Paris 2026

Now that the dust has settled and the excitement has returned to baseline, it is the perfect time to reflect on VivaTech Paris 2026. And believe me—there is plenty to talk about. I regularly attend events like VivaTech and Web Summit because they serve as the best barometer for where the world is heading. Technology is not only at the vanguard of change; it is also the fastest to adapt to it. This year was no exception.

The goodylabs team at VivaTech Paris 2026 — inside the illuminated tunnel installation on the show floor, badges from the Région Île-de-France delegation on display.

From generic AI to AI agents

Artificial intelligence has officially moved past the stage of being a novelty or a simple tool for generating text and images. The spotlight has firmly shifted toward Agentic AI. We are talking about autonomous AI agents capable of executing complex tasks and making key decisions on their own. This represents the fundamental shift: autonomous machine decision-making. Remember when I wrote about Agentic Commerce? It’s no longer a futuristic idea—it’s happening right now.

Geopolitics & a new sign of the times

If an alien landed from the moon and walked straight into VivaTech, they would realize instantly that we live in turbulent times. Never before at a tech conference have I seen a 4-person family emergency escape pod designed for missile attacks. Another eye-catcher was the smart bus stop concept, equipped with:

• A "Filtro module" natural cooling system
• An SOS emergency call point & defibrillator
• An e-paper color map of the local area
• A drone docking module, environmental sensors, Wi-Fi, and solar panels

It’s a striking, slightly eerie reflection of the era we live in.

Data sovereignty as national security

With shifting geopolitical dynamics and evolving transatlantic relations, the post-WWII world order is undergoing a massive transformation.

Data sovereignty has escalated from a theoretical conversation about legal compliance to a matter of hard national security. A prime example was telecom giant Orange announcing heavy investments in a sovereign European cloud and telecommunications infrastructure designed to shield the region’s critical assets from external cyber threats.

Space: hard business, no romance

At VivaTech 2026, space was stripped of its old-school romanticism. It was presented for what it now is: a mature, multi-billion-dollar business essential for national security, global connectivity, and competitive advantage. Rockets and lunar visions—from Jeff Bezos to David Lump—left a massive impression. Without space infrastructure, modern states and enterprises simply won't be able to compete.

One of our CEOs representing goodylabs at a gala event during the Łódź Region's economic mission

A special note of appreciation

I wouldn't be writing this summary if goodylabs hadn't taken part in the economic mission organized by the Marshal's Office of the Łódź Region. This initiative was part of the project titled "InterEuropa – internationalization of enterprises from the Łódź Voivodeship through participation in trade fairs and expansion into European markets"

co-financed under the regional program European Funds for Łódzkie 2021–2027.