Is AI Really Humanities Greatest Threat? - Showcase Debate

Tue Jun 09 2026 at 07:00 pm to 09:30 pm UTC+01:00

The English-Speaking Union | London

Debate London
Publisher/HostDebate London
Is AI Really Humanities Greatest Threat? - Showcase Debate
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This House Believes AI Development Poses The Greatest Threat To Humanity
About this Event

Why are We Having This Debate?

AI has been on everyone's minds since ChatGPT first ever graced our laptops. The rise of LLMs and AI assistants have left millions wondering "just how far can this technology go?"

Already with only LLM models we have seen companies lay off staff, Anthroic's Claud Mythos has proven to be a ground breaking hacker and that's all before we get to the sci-fi turned reality predictions of AGI - Artificial General Intelligence - which industry experts believe we will have achieved within the decade!

So We Ask - Is AI AI humanities largest threat or is there something else waiting in the wings?

Come Along and Have your Vote!!


What Makes this Event Speacial?

Debate London is partnering with several charities to bring you a Debate to remember! Joined by Pause AI, one of the wolrds leading AI advocacy groups with missions to regulate AI and slow it's development to prevent some of the worst outcomes experts predict AI could lead to and co-hosted by one of the UKs oldest serving public speaking & debate organisations. The English Speaking Union.


What We Do

3v3 panel debate where our members explore the strongest arguments for a given topic.

A debate should tell the audience what they need to know and not just what the speakers think. If you feel the same way, then we want to meet you.

Debate London is the year-round series of free public debates held weekly at venues across the capital. The series is run by Debate London, a social enterprise that helps its members to advance their personal and professional development by teaching them how to debate.

All of our speakers are Debate London members who have agreed to defend a particular perspective the audience need to hear, rather than just share their own personal opinion. After presenting the point of view assigned to them, the audience are then given the floor to cross-examine them and share their own position.

The only time we hear what the speakers really think is at the end of the debate when they tell us where they really stand and whether this changed at all while learning how to defend the perspective assigned to them.

This time though, each of our teams will be lead by professionals in their respective fields of AI and AI activism. Each of those special gust speakers will be supported by 2 trained debaters from the Debate London community.


After Debate Social

After all of our debates we have a post debate hang-out. This is a chance for our community to get to know new people, explore new ideas and generally have more fun as a club! Come along and join us for a post-debate social!


Venue

Our venues serve drinks (alcoholic and soft drinks) as well as brilliant food. All can be ordered from the bar

Do not bring external food or drink into our venues you will be asked to throw it away or to finish it outside. - This is a venue rule which we need to follow.


Want a Guarunteed Seat?

As this is a free event we do slightly over-register tickets to the number of seats of seats available. We have plenty of standing room but should you wish to guaruntee a seat we recommend arriving any time from 18:30. This will give you ample time to grab a drink, order any food up to the room and most importantly grab your favorite spot!


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Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The English-Speaking Union, 37 Charles Street, London, United Kingdom

Tickets

GBP 0.00 to GBP 11.55

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