As a student, he studied philosophy and science at École Normale Supérieure and the Sorbonne in Paris.
His early research involved the study of political violence and empiricism, especially the works of John Locke and David Hume.
In 2000, Michaud partnered with Jean-Jacques Aillagon to establish the Université de tous les savoirs (University of all knowledge), a French government initiative to disseminate information on new scientific advances.
[1] Michaud has published widely on the relationships of the arts and culture in a globalized, technological world.
In 2007 Le Figaro published his article entitled "Ce nouveau fondamentalisme moral qui menace la société française".