The latest update from Sciences Po reveals that, as of spring 2025, three out of four students reported using AI tools weekly — a strong indication of how deeply artificial-intelligence technologies have already integrated into academic life. The school acknowledges this shift and sees AI not as a threat but as a lever to deploy new skills, while reaffirming the importance of preserving critical thinking and intellectual rigour.
To guide its community, Sciences Po has adopted a doctrine on AI founded on five core principles: (1) maintaining high intellectual standards and independent thinking, (2) valuing humanities and interdisciplinary approaches, (3) promoting informed and responsible AI use, (4) adapting assessment and evaluation methods in light of AI’s influence, and (5) prioritizing AI as a serious research topic. This framework reflects a commitment to integrate AI thoughtfully — not as a replacement for human judgment, but as a tool that must be complemented by human insight and responsibility.
Beyond internal policy, Sciences Po is actively engaging in broader AI research and governance efforts. It recently joined a major international consortium (involving OpenAI among others) to study the impact of AI — particularly how it affects online public debate and democratic processes. The institution’s researchers, across its social-science and digital-transformation labs, are exploring questions around AI ethics, bias in algorithms, the social consequences of AI deployment, and how AI should be regulated in democratic societies.
Finally, Sciences Po doesn’t treat AI merely as a technical challenge but as a societal and educational opportunity. Through its newly established Open Institute for Digital Transformations — and associated programs — the university aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue between humanities, social sciences, and technical disciplines. The goal is to equip students and researchers not only to use AI responsibly, but also to shape how AI interacts with public policy, democracy, and society at large — combining technological understanding with ethical, social, and governance perspectives.
