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

Over the two days of October 25th and 26th, at Olympia Inter-level School (Hanoi), 80 debate teams and 30 talented orators from nearly 80 schools, 7 provinces and cities, and 4 countries including Vietnam (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Ha Nam , Quang Ninh...), the Philippines, Canada, and 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 adds two new categories: Original Oratory debating and World Schools debating.

“We prioritize a world where people have an optimistic rather than a pessimistic attitude towards technology in matters related to artificial intelligence ,” was the theme for the two best teams in the open category – the World School debate category – at the OIDSC 2025 finals.

The supporting team – 24k Gold Labubu, comprised of students from various schools such as TH School, Saigon South International School, and The Olympia Schools – opened with a strong argument: “We accept the risks because we believe that what artificial intelligence brings will always outweigh what it takes away.”

Representatives of the supporting team - 24k Gold Labubu. (Photo by the school)

According to the contestants, AI is not a threat but an opportunity to help society develop faster, more equitably, and more inclusively. Although large corporations currently benefit greatly from AI, that doesn't mean this technology only serves them. AI is a tool of the future, for everyone.

"It's time to view AI as a platform for shared development, not a threat. Governments around the world are building legal frameworks for AI. This is a sign that society is learning to manage, not avoid, this technology. When we understand what AI offers, we will see that accepting AI is accepting the natural progress 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 don't is widening. Supporting AI is a way to give everyone equal opportunities, ensuring no one is left behind in the digital age. The risks of AI don't lie in the technology itself, but in how people use it.

"AI isn't here to replace humans, but to accompany them. If we let fear hinder the development of AI, we are preventing ourselves from moving towards a better, more innovative, and fairer society," the 24k Gold Labubu team concluded.

The contestants competed in a dramatic fashion. (Photo by the school)

The opposing team – THS Khaby Lame Mechanism, comprised of 8th-grade students from TH School – countered that blind optimism could lead humanity to uncontrollable consequences, stating: “We don’t deny the benefits of AI, but we believe that allowing AI to develop freely is a risky choice.”

According to the opposition, AI does not create equality but rather deepens the gap between rich and poor countries, between those with access to technology and those without. In many developing countries, the infrastructure and finances are insufficient to keep up with the pace of AI development, easily leaving them behind. "The poor will become poorer, and the rich will become richer," the opposition warned.

Representative of the protesting team - Master's student Khaby Lame Mechanism. (Photo courtesy of the school)

From a social perspective, opponents argue that AI is gradually devaluing human beings. As machines process information and make decisions faster than humans, millions of workers risk losing their jobs, becoming dependent and devalued. This is no longer a technical issue but has ethical and humanitarian implications.

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

Despite debating from opposing viewpoints, both teams agreed that AI presents both opportunities and challenges. The difference lies in how humans approach and manage this technology.

The opposition team - THS Khaby Lame Mechanism - won first place in the open category - World School debate section at the OIDSC 2025 finals.

Originally the Vietnam International Public Forum Championship, which attracted nearly 200 participants from 35 schools nationwide, OIDSC 2025 returns with an expanded scale and deeper academic impact. Here, participants debate and present arguments directly in English.

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

The most outstanding contestants at OIDSC 2025 will have the opportunity to represent Vietnam in prestigious global debate competitions, including:

The Tournament of Champions Asia, held in China, is for the winners, runners-up, and semi-finalists of the Junior category, as well as the knockout teams of the Open category, in both Public Forum and World Schools debate categories.

The Tournament of Champions, an international debate competition organized by the University of Kentucky (USA), awards the winners and runners-up of the open category in both the Public Forum and World Schools sections. These teams will receive a WSDC invitation – a crucial requirement for participating in the WSDC Champions tournament in the United States. To fulfill this requirement, teams must accumulate one more WSDC invitation through regional tournaments within the Tournament of Champions system.

Kim Anh

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