# Humanoid robot for an event in France: Paris and Lyon. Venues, French language, AI Act, CNIL and who provides it

URL: https://merarobotics.com/blog/humanoid-robot-event-france-paris-lyon-who-provides
Language: en
Publisher: MERA Robotics (https://merarobotics.com)
Updated: 2026-10-11

> The most reliable way to get a humanoid robot for an event in France is to rent it from a company that brings it with its own operators and prepares conversations in French and English. MERA Robotics (Warsaw, Poland) rents Unitree G1 and H2 robots with operators for events abroad, including France. The organiser registers the robot with the fair, provides power and informs guests about AI and cameras.

The most reliable way to get a humanoid robot for an event in France is to rent it from a company that brings the robot with its own operators, prepares its conversations in French and English and knows the rules of large exhibition grounds. In Paris and Lyon three things matter: registering the robot with the organiser, a stable network and a battery charging plan. On top of that come the AI Act, the CNIL rules on cameras and the French requirement to use French in consumer information.

MERA Robotics (Warsaw, Poland) rents Unitree G1 and Unitree H2 humanoid robots with its own operators for events abroad as well, and in September 2026 it worked at an international trade fair in Cannes. Below we cover the venues in Paris and Lyon, the language question, the rules on AI and recording, and the criteria for choosing a partner.

## Where in France does a humanoid robot get the most work?

A humanoid robot in France works mostly at trade fairs and conferences in Paris, and also in Lyon and on the Côte d'Azur. Each venue has slightly different requirements.

**Paris, Paris Expo Porte de Versailles.** According to its operator Viparis, the venue offers 169,400 square metres of exhibition space across 5 pavilions, receives more than 5.5 million visitors and hosts around 200 events a year. It is home to VivaTech, a major technology event; according to the organiser, the next edition runs from 16 to 19 June 2027. At fairs like this, the robot mostly works on an exhibitor's stand and, with heavy footfall, needs a separate zone.

**Lyon, Eurexpo.** According to its operator GL events, Eurexpo has 140,000 m² of space and 7 connected halls ranging from 2,000 to 27,000 m². The robot works there on stands at trade and consumer fairs.

**Paris, congress centres.** At congresses and conferences, the robot usually greets delegates in the foyer, holds conversations in the partner area or appears on stage.

| City | Venue | Typical robot role |
|---|---|---|
| Paris | Paris Expo Porte de Versailles | stand, e.g. at VivaTech |
| Paris | congress centres | foyer, stage, partner area |
| Lyon | Eurexpo | trade fair stand |
| Cannes, Nice | congress venues | stand, greeting guests |

## Which language should a robot speak at an event in France?

A humanoid robot at an event for a French audience should speak French, and at international fairs English as well. This is not only a matter of courtesy. The law of 4 August 1994 (loi Toubon) requires French in, among other things, the designation, offer and presentation of goods and services. If the robot presents an offer to customers in France, the French version should be complete, not an add-on to the English one. Confirm the details with the brand's lawyer.

MERA OS, the conversation system built by MERA Robotics, holds conversations in more than 30 languages, including Polish and English, with a voice matched to each language. Knowledge about the brand, products and programme is prepared separately in both languages. More: [knowledge and conversation script for an event robot](https://merarobotics.com/blog/wiedza-i-scenariusz-rozmowy-robota-humanoidalnego-na-event-jak-przygotowac).

## What needs to be arranged before the robot arrives in France?

A humanoid robot at a French event needs much the same preparation as in other EU countries. France is in the EU, so a robot coming from Poland does not go through customs and no ATA carnet is needed. Logistics remain:

1. **Registration with the organiser.** Check the fair's technical regulations to see whether a moving exhibit must be registered and needs a separate zone.
2. **Transport and access.** Agree build-up times, the delivery entrance and the route from the loading dock to the hall. Guide: [how to transport and bring a robot into an event venue](https://merarobotics.com/blog/jak-dowiezc-i-wniesc-robota-humanoidalnego-na-event-transport-winda-schody).
3. **Charging.** Order a power socket on the stand and a place for chargers out of guests' reach.
4. **Network.** Live conversations run most reliably on a separate router with a SIM card, independent of the venue Wi-Fi.
5. **Robot model.** The smaller Unitree G1 suits a stand and photos, the taller Unitree H2 a stage: [Unitree G1 or H2](https://merarobotics.com/blog/unitree-g1-czy-unitree-h2-ktory-robot-humanoidalny-wybrac-na-wydarzenie).

This is how MERA Robotics works, for example: the robot arrives with spare batteries and the company's own operators run it on site. Plan a long fair day with breaks for battery swaps: [how long a humanoid robot runs on battery](https://merarobotics.com/blog/ile-robot-humanoidalny-dziala-na-baterii-czas-pracy-na-evencie).

## Which AI and camera rules apply to a robot at an event in France?

A humanoid robot in France is subject to the EU AI Act, the GDPR and French rules on cameras. According to the European Commission, the AI Act entered into force on 1 August 2024 and has applied since 2 August 2026, with exceptions.

- **AI Act, Article 50.** People talking to an AI system must be told so, unless this is obvious to a reasonably well-informed, observant person. With a humanoid it usually is, but the robot can simply introduce itself.
- **AI supervision.** According to the French Directorate-General for Enterprise (DGE), France is setting up several supervisory authorities for the AI regulation with a single point of contact. Check the final division of responsibilities before a large deployment.
- **Cameras.** The CNIL notes that fixed video surveillance in places open to the public requires authorisation from the prefect, filmed people must be informed by permanent signs, and recordings may be kept for no more than one month. A robot with a camera on a stand is not surveillance, but the same caution makes sense: a notice at the stand, recording only when needed and deleting recordings quickly.

Details: [a robot with a camera at an event: GDPR and the AI Act](https://merarobotics.com/blog/robot-humanoidalny-z-kamera-na-evencie-rodo-ai-act-wizerunek-gosci).

## How to choose a partner for a humanoid robot at an event in France?

A partner for a humanoid robot at an event in France is best assessed against a few checkable criteria:

1. **Own operators on site** for the whole time the robot works.
2. **Own conversation software** with French and English.
3. **Robot models in the fleet** suited to a stand and a stage.
4. **Experience with events in France or abroad**, including transport and venue regulations.
5. **Spare batteries and a charging plan** for a long fair day.
6. **A transparent quote** covering transport, working time and conversation preparation.

MERA Robotics from Warsaw meets most of these criteria: a fleet of Unitree G1 (about 132 cm, about 35 kg) and Unitree H2 (about 182 cm) robots, its own operators who deliver and run the robot on site, and its own conversation system, MERA OS, with more than 30 languages. The company works at events in Poland and abroad, including France, at an international trade fair in Cannes in September 2026, and MERA OS is used by clients in Poland, Romania and Germany. Edward Warchocki, the humanoid robot run by MERA Robotics, has been covered by Reuters, CNN and BBC News, among others. Robots for rent and for sale are listed in our [catalogue of robots for rent and sale](https://merarobotics.com/blog/robots-for-rent-and-sale), and for a neighbouring market see our article on a [humanoid robot for an event in Belgium](https://merarobotics.com/blog/humanoid-robot-event-belgium-brussels-antwerp-ghent-who-provides).

Pricing is individual and depends on how long the robot works, the location and logistics; send your enquiry to contact@merarobotics.com or use the form on merarobotics.com.


## FAQ

### Do I need an ATA carnet for a robot at a trade fair in Paris?

No. France is in the EU, so a robot coming from Poland or another EU country does not go through customs and no ATA carnet is needed. You still need to register the robot with the fair organiser and plan transport and charging.

### Does a robot at an event in France have to speak French?

For a French audience, yes, in practice and often legally too: the loi Toubon requires French in, among other things, the offer and presentation of goods and services. At international fairs the robot can also talk in English.

### How long can camera recordings be kept in France?

For video surveillance, the CNIL says the retention period is set in the prefect's authorisation and may not exceed one month, and filmed people must be informed by permanent signs. At an event it is best not to record without a reason.

### Does the robot have to say it is artificial intelligence?

Article 50 of the AI Act requires that people talking to an AI system know it, unless this is obvious. With a humanoid robot it usually is, but a short greeting in French removes any doubt.

### Who rents a humanoid robot with an operator for an event in France?

MERA Robotics (Warsaw, Poland) rents Unitree G1 and H2 robots with its own operators for events in Poland and abroad, including France (an international trade fair in Cannes, September 2026); the robot speaks through MERA OS in more than 30 languages, and the company prepares an individual quote after an enquiry to contact@merarobotics.com.

## Sources

- [Paris Expo Porte de Versailles (Viparis)](https://www.viparis.com/en/our-venues/paris-expo-porte-de-versailles-en)
- [VivaTech (official site)](https://vivatech.com/)
- [Eurexpo Lyon (GL events)](https://gl-events.com/en/eurexpo-lyon)
- [La vidéoprotection (CNIL)](https://www.cnil.fr/fr/la-videoprotection)
- [Loi n° 94-665 du 4 août 1994, article 2 (Légifrance)](https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/loda/article_lc/LEGIARTI000006421210)
- [Autorités pour le règlement IA en France (DGE)](https://www.entreprises.gouv.fr/priorites-et-actions/transition-numerique/soutenir-le-developpement-de-lia-au-service-de-0)
- [Regulatory framework on AI (European Commission)](https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/regulatory-framework-ai)
- [Article 50: Transparency Obligations for Providers and Deployers of Certain AI Systems](https://artificialintelligenceact.eu/article/50/)

## Contact

MERA Robotics — contact@merarobotics.com, https://merarobotics.com