A self-taught entrepreneur passionate about new technologies and societal challenges, Gilles Babinet has been an entrepreneur since the age of 22. He founded numerous companies in various sectors, including consulting (Absolut, Laitao), construction (Escalade Industrie), mobile music (Musiwave), co-creation (eYeka), and decision-making tools (Captain Dash).

He has since become a leading figure in the French and European digital ecosystem, taking on multiple public responsibilities. From 2021 to 2025, he served as co-president of the French Digital Council, where he notably launched the “Café IA” initiative before being appointed President of the Café IA mission by Clara Chappaz in June 2025. He is also France’s Digital Champion to the European Commission and a member of the AI Committee initiated by Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne in late 2023, whose report was submitted to the President of the Republic.

A lecturer at HEC and the author of several books, including How Hippies, God, and Science Invented the Internet and his most recent work Green AI – Artificial Intelligence Serving the Climate (March 2024), he supports organizations in their digital transformation and AI policy strategies.