Affirmative · Martin Ford
A future with fewer jobs
The affirmative must show that AI-driven job losses will exceed the jobs created by new products, industries, and demand over the next 20 years.
The SuperDebate · Online recording
Will AI Eliminate More Jobs Than It Creates?
Martin FordAffirmative
Pedro DomingosNegative
Two leading voices on artificial intelligence debate what the next wave of automation means for human work.
Recording scheduled for October 12, 2026.
Public release date to be announced.
- Recording
- October 12, 2026
- Format
- Online · 40–45 minutes
- Public release
- To be announced
01 · The question
What’s at stake
AI can automate work. Can it create enough new work to replace what it takes away? Martin Ford and Pedro Domingos debate the global balance of jobs over the next 20 years.
As AI becomes more capable, the question reaches beyond which tasks it can perform. What happens to the total amount of work available to people? This SuperDebate examines whether AI-driven job losses will outweigh the employment created by new products, industries, and demand over the next two decades. Martin Ford argues the affirmative; Pedro Domingos argues the negative. The conversation will include opening arguments, direct cross-examination, rebuttals, and closing arguments.
The resolution · Global
Over the next 20 years, AI will eliminate more jobs than it creates.
Negative · Pedro Domingos
New work, new possibilities
The negative challenges that forecast: AI may change what people do while creating enough employment to offset the jobs it eliminates.
Editorial overview of the resolution.
Five questions to listen for
- When does automating tasks become eliminating jobs?
- Will new demand and new industries offset displacement?
- Is AI different from previous waves of technological change?
- How should global employment gains and losses be compared?
- What evidence would change either speaker’s forecast?
02 · The voices
Meet the debaters
Affirmative
Martin Ford
Futurist; New York Times bestselling author of Rise of the Robots
Martin Ford is a futurist and the New York Times bestselling author of Rise of the Robots: Technology and the Threat of a Jobless Future, which won the Financial Times/McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award.
Artificial intelligence · Automation · Future of work
More about Martin
His books also include Rule of the Robots, Architects of Intelligence, and The Lights in the Tunnel. A Silicon Valley software entrepreneur, he has a computer engineering degree from the University of Michigan and a graduate business degree from UCLA.
Negative
Pedro Domingos
Professor Emeritus, University of Washington; author of The Master Algorithm
Pedro Domingos is professor emeritus of computer science and engineering at the University of Washington. His work spans machine learning, data science, and knowledge representation.
Machine learning · Artificial intelligence · Data science
More about Pedro
He is the author of The Master Algorithm and 2040, and a recipient of the SIGKDD Innovation Award and IJCAI John McCarthy Award. He is also a Fellow of the AAAS and AAAI. He earned his Ph.D. in Information and Computer Science at the University of California, Irvine.
03 · The exchange
How the debate unfolds
A recorded online SuperDebate with opening arguments, direct cross-examination, rebuttals, and closing arguments. The debate is expected to run approximately 40–45 minutes.
- 01
Opening arguments
Each speaker lays out a case and the evidence behind it.
- 02
Cross-examination
The debaters question each other’s assumptions and reasoning.
- 03
Rebuttals
Each side responds to the strongest challenges raised.
- 04
Closing arguments
The speakers bring their cases together for a final comparison.
Recorded online, then released publicly. The public release date and any audience participation details will be announced when confirmed.
04 · Follow the conversation
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- 01A specific questionAn agreed resolution makes the disagreement clear, including its scope and what each side needs to establish.
- 02Direct cross-examinationThe debaters question each other’s evidence, assumptions, and conclusions rather than speaking past one another.
- 03A case you can examineOpenings, rebuttals, and closings let you compare the arguments and consider what would change your mind.
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Common questions
When can I watch this debate?
The recording is scheduled for October 12, 2026. A public release date has not been announced. The recording is not available to watch yet.
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Who is arguing each side?
Martin Ford argues the affirmative, in favor of the resolution. Pedro Domingos argues the negative, against it.
What is the debate format?
A recorded online SuperDebate with opening arguments, direct cross-examination, rebuttals, and closing arguments. The debate is expected to run approximately 40–45 minutes.
Can I score the debate now?
Scoring is not open for this debate. The recording and any audience participation details will be added when they are confirmed.
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