A night of live debates on the biggest questions in artificial intelligence, starting with whether America should wall off AI from China. MIT’s Yasheng Huang, Fiona Murray and Manolis Kellis take the stage, the audience questions them and judges the debate, and the friendly back and forth carries on over drinks at the reception.
Three MIT faculty, one evening of live, carefully framed argument about artificial intelligence. Bring your questions: every session opens to the room.
Featured exchange · US–China AI Competition: Security, Innovation, and Cooperation
Should America wall off AI from China?
Where should the US draw the line between scientific cooperation with China and restrictions intended to protect national security?
An economist of China’s state and technology and the chair of the NATO Innovation Fund take on the hardest trade-off in AI policy: the openness that drives discovery against the controls meant to keep it safe.
Yasheng Huang
Epoch Foundation Professor of International Management, MIT Sloan School of Management
Every session opens to the audience for questions, and the reception afterwards keeps the conversation going over a drink. This is our last night, Chicago Super Debate No. 1 at The Ferris.
Schedule
Tuesday, November 17, 2026 5:30 PM EST – 9:30 PM EST
5:30
Doors and reception
Find your seat and get a drink from the Laugh Boston bar.
6:00
The program begins
Live sessions with Manolis Kellis, Yasheng Huang and Fiona Murray, with audience questions.
9:00
Reception and debrief
Stay to talk it through with the speakers and the room.
One ticket covers the whole night: every debate, your questions and your vote, and the reception after. Drinks are available from the Laugh Boston bar.
No account needed: check out as a guest and your ticket arrives by email. Bringing more than 30 people? Email john@superdebate.org.
Your hosts
John Connor hosts for SuperDebate, with Archie Stapleton and the Modus Ponens Institute as Boston hosts.
John Connor
Founder · SuperDebate
A Chicago city-wide varsity debate champion, John attended college on a full scholarship. He spent the next decade building technology products, advising companies and leading teams. Through SuperDebate, he now brings structured debate to local clubs, live showcases and online conversations.
Archie co-founded and co-owns the Modus Ponens Institute, an education organization working across philosophy, ethics, debate, and AI literacy. He studied philosophy at the University of British Columbia and completed a Master of Theological Studies at Harvard Divinity School.
Laugh Boston is at 425 Summer Street, inside the Westin Boston Seaport, next to the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. It is a short walk from the World Trade Center Silver Line stop.
The showcase takes the stage at Laugh Boston, a 300-seat room in the Westin Boston Seaport. Arrive early for a drink at the bar, and stay after the program to keep the conversation going.
No. It is live, structured debate that happens to be at Laugh Boston. Expect sharp arguments, a few laughs, and your turn to question the speakers.
Do I need to know about AI or debate?
Not at all. Every case is made for a general audience.
What time should I arrive?
Doors and the bar open at 5:30 PM, and the program starts at 6:00 PM. Come early for a good seat.
Is there food and drink?
The Laugh Boston bar is open all evening.
How do I get there?
Laugh Boston is at 425 Summer Street, inside the Westin Boston Seaport, next to the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. It is a short walk from the World Trade Center Silver Line stop.
