On the prestigious stage of the Royal Opera House at the Château de Versailles, L’Astrologue ou les Faux Présages, a play written entirely by artificial intelligence in the style of Molière, showcased its first two performances in front of a captivated audience. It marked a major milestone for an unprecedented initiative led by Sorbonne University, the artistic trio Obvious, and the Théâtre Molière Sorbonne, renowned for its expertise in historically informed theatrical reconstructions.

Every element of the production from dialogue, staging, music, sets and costumes was generated using Mistral AI’s Le Chat model then shaped, tested and refined by human teams. Reading committees comprising literary specialists, linguists and researchers supported the entire creative process to ensure the work’s dramaturgical and stylistic coherence. 

A collaboration between scientists, artists, performing arts practitioners, and artificial intelligence specialists, the “Molière Ex Machina” project explores innovative creative methodologies at the intersection of the humanities and generative AI technologies. Guided by the ambition to remain faithful to the spirit of 17th century theatre, these teams have drawn on a wide range of expertise, in constant dialogue with artificial intelligence tools.

And it’s far from over: this first encounter with the public marks a new stage in the project’s journey. See you at VivaTech 2026!

Photo credits: Tom Gachet