Renowned judges from Harvard, MIT, and leading universities will evaluate projects focusing on critical topics such as AI & Climate Change, AI in Education, AI & Military, AI & Work, and Bias in AI. Participants aged 7-18 are encouraged to showcase their innovative ideas.

AI Literacy Debates: Join Students from Around the World

Top judges from MIT, Harvard, Perplexity, and OpenAI are influencing the Global AI Debates, fostering AI literacy through student competitions.

AI Literacy Debates: Join Students from Around the World

Top judges from MIT, Harvard, Perplexity, and OpenAI are influencing the Global AI Debates, fostering AI literacy through student competitions.

Founding Institutions

Modus Ponens Institute

Large black letters M and I with a red Greek letter rho in the center.

At modusponensinstitute.com, we are dedicated to enhancing AI literacy through engaging resources and programs. Our platform also hosts Global AI Debates, where students can showcase their knowledge and skills in various topics related to artificial intelligence. Additionally, we encourage participation in student competitions that foster innovation and collaboration in the field of AI.

DebateUS!

Modus Ponens Institute

debateus.org is a platform dedicated to promoting AI literacy among students through engaging Global AI Debates and student competitions.

TKE Ethics

Modus Ponens Institute

TKE Ethics

tkethics.org is a platform dedicated to enhancing AI literacy among students. It serves as a hub for Global AI Debates, where participants can engage in meaningful discussions. Additionally, the site hosts various student competitions aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of artificial intelligence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach us at Stefan.Bauschard@gmail.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.

What is the format? How many students from a school can participate?

Schools/institutions can place any number of students on a team to write the essay. If the school team advances, the school must select two students per entry to debate online. The online debate format is 2 vs. 2.

Schools/institutions can submit as many video entries for the public speaking contest as they wish.

Can a school submit more than one team/entry?

Schools can submit as many essays as they wish, but the students in each group must take responsibility for writing a particular essay. If a particular essay advances, the students who wrote it must compete online. Each entry must be supported by a separate fee, but the fee covers as many students in a group as the school wishes.

Can students participate in both the writing and speaking competition?

You can apply for both, but the finals are on the same day, at the same time!

Are non-school entries welcome?

Sure!

How will the entries be judged?

A rubric is available describing how each essay and speech will be judged. All videos and essays will be anonymously reviewed (no student or school information will be present).

Can the students use AI in the competition?

Students may use as much or as little AI as they wish when submitting their essays. The important thing to consider is if the essay meets the rubric criteria and if the students will be prepared to verbally defend their arguments as well as rebut their opponents’ arguments in the elimination debates.

Who are the judges?

Our judges are researchers, philosophers, and practitioners working in AI ethics, safety, and governance, drawn from institutions including Mila, Oxford, the Global Center on AI Governance, and OpenAI.

How many teams will advance?

For Essay & Debate: Teams submit a 1,500-word essay. Round I narrows the field; the top 8 essays advance to live elimination rounds (quarterfinals → semifinals → finals).

For Speech: The top 20% of video submissions in each division advance from Round I. The top finalists in each category compete in a live final round.

Is there any entry fee?

A “submission” is defined as a single initial essay. You may have any number of students collaborate on one essay. However, if the essay advances to the live debate rounds, you must choose two students from the original team to represent it in the debates. There is no additional judging fee. Institutions may submit as many entries as they like.

Essay + Debate Competition
Each essay submission is $120 USD unless your team submits 10 or more entries — then the fee is reduced to $100 USD per entry.

Speech Competition
Each speech submission is $120 USD, or $100 USD if your team submits 10 or more entries.
Students submit a 7-minute recorded speech (based on the prompt for their age group). They may submit again in Round II if they advance.

Early Bird Discounts (apply to both Essay and Speech competitions):

July 1 – July 31: 20% off all registration
August 1 – August 31: 15% off all registration
September 1 – September 20: 10% off all registration

Student names are not required at registration. You may register and pay for your entries starting July 1, 2025, and submit student details later. Registration closes when entries are due.

What is the entry fee used for?

Entries fees will be utilized to support the administration of the tournament, including small payments to the preliminary debate judges who will be reading a lot of essays and videos. We are currently raising money to provide prizes for those who reach the elimination rounds.

Will you make materials to help students prepare available?

A "submission" is defined as a single initial essay. Any number of students may collaborate on one essay. If the essay advances to the live debate rounds, you must choose two students from the original team to represent it. There is no additional judging fee. Institutions may submit as many entries as they like.

Essay & Debate Competition. Each essay submission is $120 USD, or $100 USD per entry if your team submits 10 or more entries.

Speech Competition. Each speech submission is $120 USD, or $100 USD per entry if your team submits 10 or more entries. Students submit a 7-minute recorded speech based on the prompt for their age group. They may submit again in Round II if they advance.

Early Bird Discount (applies to both competitions). Use code EARLYBIRD before July 1, 2026 to receive 20% off all entries.

Student names are not required at registration. You may register and pay starting now, and submit student details later. Registration closes October 1, 2026.

Will rubrics be provided?

Find rubrics on this website from the menu!

What language(s) will the online debates be conducted in?

English is the default language for the live debates.

Do you accept sponsorships?

We are actively seeking event sponsors and sponsors of the age-based divisions.

Letter from the Founders

Powerful individuals and corporations with staggering wealth and influence are leading us into a new industrial revolution defined by artificial intelligence (AI). On its current trajectory, AI is aimed at replicating and then exceeding human-level intelligence. This AI will redefine everything, from our personal relationships to education, work, and even the very beginning and end of life.

While this technological transformation is likely inevitable, it is through our collective action that we can each find our home in this new world in a way that promotes human flourishing. The future of AI belongs to all of us, not just the limited number of individuals who are currently driving its development

Global AI Debates was created to empower students to become active participants in shaping the AI revolution, including what it means to be "AI Literate." We believe that AI literacy is not something that should be co-created through open dialogue and exchange across all members of society, including the AI systems themselves.

The decisions we make today about AI will echo through the generations. This is a chance to be part of that crucial conversation and help define the world you want to live in. Get involved in the Global AI Debates - the future is yours to shape.

AI Literacy Debates: Join Students from Around the World

AI Literacy Debates: Join Students from Around the World

Founding Institutions

Modus Ponens Institute

Modus Ponens Institute

Modus Ponens Institute

DebateUS!

Modus Ponens Institute

Modus Ponens Institute

TKE Ethics

Modus Ponens Institute

TKE Ethics

Frequently Asked Questions

Letter from the Founders

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