Students debate dramatically: Should we be optimistic or pessimistic about artificial intelligence?

On October 25 and 26, at Olympia High School (Hanoi), 80 debate teams and 30 talented orators from nearly 80 schools, 7 provinces and 4 countries including Vietnam (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Ha Nam , Quang Ninh...), Philippines, Canada, Australia brought a vibrant, intellectual and inspiring academic atmosphere through the Olympia International Debate & Speech Championship (OIDSC).

In addition to the traditional Public Forum debate category, this year's competition added two new categories: Original Oratory and World Schools debate.

“We prioritize a world where people are optimistic rather than pessimistic about technology in matters related to artificial intelligence ”, is the theme for the two best teams in the open category - World School debate category at the OIDSC 2025 final.

The supporting team - 24k Gold Labubu, including students from many schools such as TH School, Saigon South International School and The Olympia Schools opened with a strong argument: "We accept the risk, because we believe that what artificial intelligence brings will always be more than what it takes away."

Support team representative - 24k Gold Labubu. (School photo)

According to the candidates, AI is not a threat but an opportunity to help society develop faster, more equitable and more inclusive. Although large corporations currently benefit a lot from AI, that does not mean that this technology only serves them. AI is a tool of the future, for everyone.

"It's time to see AI as a common development platform, not a threat. Governments are building legal corridors for AI. This is a sign that society is learning to manage, not avoid this technology. When we understand what AI brings, we will see that accepting AI is accepting the natural progression of humanity," the 24k Gold Labubu team emphasized.

According to this team, the gap between those who know how to use AI and those who do not is growing. Supporting AI is the way to give equal opportunities to all individuals, not leaving anyone behind in the digital age. The risk of AI lies not in the technology itself, but in how people use it.

"AI is not here to replace humans, but to accompany humans. If we hold back the development of AI out of fear, we are preventing ourselves from moving towards a better, more creative and fairer society," the 24k Gold Labubu team concluded.

The contestants competed dramatically. (School photo)

The opposing team - THS Khaby Lame Mechanism, consisting of 8th grade students from TH School, argued that blind optimism could lead humanity to uncontrollable consequences with the view: "We do not deny the benefits of AI, but believe that letting AI develop freely is a risky choice."

According to the opposition, AI does not create equality but instead deepens the gap between rich and poor countries, between those who have access to technology and those who do not. In many developing countries, infrastructure and finance are not enough to keep up with the pace of AI development, which will easily leave them behind. “The poor will get poorer, the rich will get richer,” the opposition warned.

Representative of the protest team - Master Khaby Lame Mechanism. (School photo)

Socially, the opposition argues that AI is gradually devaluing humans. When machines can process and make decisions faster than humans, millions of workers are at risk of losing their jobs and becoming dependent and devalued. This is no longer a technical issue but an ethical and humane one.

The right choice, argues the Khaby Lame Mechanism team, is not to accept risks but to set limits for technology. “AI needs to be controlled, monitored and developed within a clear legal framework, to ensure that the benefits of technology do not come at the expense of the environment, human dignity and livelihoods,” the team stressed.

Despite arguing from two opposing perspectives, both teams agree that AI is both an opportunity and a challenge. The difference lies in how humans face and manage this technology.

The opposition team - THS Khaby Lame Mechanism won the Open Championship - World School debate category at the OIDSC 2025 final.

Formerly the Vietnam International Public Forum Championship with the participation of nearly 200 contestants from 35 schools across the country, OIDSC 2025 returns with a larger scale and deeper academic influence. Here, contestants debate and speak directly in English.

The OIDSC 2025 competitions are organized according to international standards, with professional formats and assessment criteria, helping Vietnamese students practice critical thinking, expression skills and persuasive presentation abilities - core competencies of 21st-century citizens.

The best candidates at OIDSC 2025 will have the opportunity to represent Vietnam in prestigious global debate competitions, including:

Tournament of Champions Asia, held in China for the Champion, Runner-up and Semi-finalists of the Junior Division, and the teams that entered the Open Division knockout round of the two debate categories under the Public Forum and World Schools rules.

The International Debate Tournament of Champions, organized by the University of Kentucky (USA), is for the Open Champion and Runner-up in the Public Forum and World Schools categories. These teams will receive 1 WSDC invitation - an important condition to participate in the WSDC Ournament of Champions in the United States. To complete the participation condition, the team needs to accumulate 1 more WSDC ticket through tournaments in the regional Tournament of Champions system.

Kim Anh

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/students-tranh-bien-kich-tinh-nen-lac-quan-hay-bi-quan-truoc-tri-tue-nhan-tao-ar983464.html