Debate 01 · Creativity & ownership
Who owns AI-assisted creativity?
Scores by criterion
Average out of 5| Joshua D. Sarnoff | Criterion | Jordana R. Goodman |
|---|---|---|
3.57 | Persuasion | 4.48 |
3.57 | Evidence | 4.0 |
3.48 | Clarity | 4.2 |
3.55 | Refutation | 4.25 |
Chicago Debate Showcase · October 21, 2026
What a night,
Chicago.
Thank you for making our first Showcase possible. Here are the audience scores from the two debates at The Ferris.
Recording coming soon.
Debate 02 · Healthcare AI
Human oversight or technical safeguards?
Scores by criterion
Average out of 5| Maia Jacobs | Criterion | Manling Li |
|---|---|---|
3.72 | Persuasion | 3.72 |
3.75 | Evidence | 3.91 |
3.97 | Clarity | 3.47 |
3.53 | Refutation | 3.5 |
Criteria are audience averages out of 5. Totals are out of 20 and use unrounded averages, so displayed values may not add up exactly. Scores assess debate performance, not agreement with the motion.
Original October 21 program
The speakers, debates and event details from our first Chicago Showcase.
Wednesday, October 21
Chicago DebateShowcase
Scheduled date passed
Explore the Chicago Debate Showcase program: debates on artificial intelligence, audience questions, and conversation at The Ferris.
- Date
- Wednesday, October 21
- Doors
- 5:30 PM CDT
- Venue
- The Ferris
- Tickets
- Scheduled date passed
Conversation beyond the stage
A different kind of night out
Meet the people.
Explore the ideas.
Artificial intelligence is changing how we work, create and live.
Bring a friend, meet someone who sees things differently, and stay for the conversations that continue after the microphones switch off.
The evening brings together people with different experiences and perspectives, with time between the debates and at the reception to get to know one another.
See how the evening unfoldsThe debates & the debaters
The main stage
When AI creates and acts, what should remain in human hands? Two featured debates take on creativity, ownership and healthcare, and the night closes with an interactive session on thinking together.
Creativity & ownership · Confirmed debate
Who owns AI-assisted creativity?
Resolved: When AI contributes creativity equivalent to that of a joint author or joint inventor, the resulting work or invention should not receive patent or copyright protection.
Meet the debaters
Healthcare AI · Confirmed debate
Human oversight or technical safeguards?
Resolved: Over the next decade, efforts to make AI use in healthcare safer should prioritize human oversight over technical safeguards.
Closing session · Interactive
Disagree better. Think together.
Human judgment in the age of AI
An interactive session with Northwestern cognitive scientist Steve Franconeri and Dr. Iain Lampert. Steve leads short demonstrations of how groups reason, then teaches a conversation game the room practices in pairs, with helpers on hand. Iain co-hosts and leads the debrief: what helped people listen, question assumptions and reconsider.
Iain Lampert2026 IPDA season-long national champion; COO, ModernBrain
Steve FranconeriProfessor of Psychology and Director of the Cognitive Science Program, Northwestern University
Tickets
Sales paused
General Admission
$30per person
The same evening, at the regular price.
- Full evening admission
Sales paused
Patron
$60per person
The whole evening, with a little more recognition for making it possible.
- Everything included in admission, plus:
- Complimentary admission to Showcase No. 2 and No. 3
- Priority for audience Q&A
- An on-stage shout-out
- Your name on the site as a Debate Patron (optional)
Your ticket includes both debates, the interactive session with Steve Franconeri and Dr. Iain Lampert, audience scoring and questions, and the launch celebration with pizza and drinks.
Scheduled date passed. Ticket sales are closed, and your ticket link still has your booking details.
The running order
The evening’s program
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
5:30 PM CDT – 9:30 PM CDT
5:30
Doors open
Check-in, drinks and conversation
6:05
Welcome
A welcome, thanks to our sponsors and Patrons, and how the evening works
6:20
Debate 1: AI authorship and inventorship
Joshua D. Sarnoff and Jordana R. Goodman. Thought clouds before and after, audience scoring, then your questions
7:15
Break
Ten minutes
7:25
Debate 2: Healthcare AI
Maia Jacobs and Manling Li. Thought clouds before and after, audience scoring, then your questions
8:25
Break
Ten minutes
8:35
Disagree better. Think together. Main
An interactive session with Steve Franconeri and Dr. Iain Lampert
9:30
Launch celebration
Pizza, drinks and conversation
The people in the room
Hosted by SuperDebate
John will host, Matthew will MC, and Iain will moderate the featured debates.
Founder · Host
John Connor
John founded SuperDebate to make rigorous, welcoming debate part of everyday life. He will host each Showcase evening.
Featured-debate moderator
Dr. Iain Lampert
Iain is a national champion debater and competition designer. He will moderate the featured debates and keep the room focused on the real clash.
MC · Live events
Matthew Rolnick
Matthew leads partnerships and live experiences. He will MC the evening, connect the program, and keep the energy moving between debates.
Be part of it
How you can take part
Event details
Scheduled date passed
Explore the debate program and the published event details.
View programSponsor the night
Packages open
Support an evening that brings Chicago’s technology, business and intellectual communities together. Explore partnership opportunities for your organization.
Sponsor the nightAudience scoring
No experience needed
Audience judging is part of the live showcase format.
View debatesScheduled date passed. New ticket sales are closed. Keep your existing ticket link for booking details.
Home base
The Ferris
1 W. Monroe Street, Chicago, IL · CTA accessible
Our welcome team at the street entrance will direct you to the elevator. Head to the 5th floor for ticket check-in; have your ticket email ready. Late arrivals are welcome.
The Ferris is SuperDebate’s Chicago home: Ferris & Co. is a members club for founders at 1 W. Monroe, built for focused work, wellness, and connection. Members pair the space with Ferris AI for routine work and a community of founders, operators, researchers, and AI builders.
Beyond the showcase
A local debate community
Chicago Debate Club hosts regular debates and conversation.
Find the next gathering and see how to join.
The Chicago series
More dates in Chicago
Chicago Super Debate comes back to The Ferris every month, with a new night of debates, new questions for the room, and drinks after.
With thanks
The people behind the night
Their support brings the debates to the stage and the conversation into the reception. Meet the organizations joining us on October 21.
Presenting sponsors
Sponsors
Venue & community partners
Bring your organization into the next SuperDebate showcase.
Explore sponsorshipGood to know
Questions
What time should I arrive?
Doors open at 5:30 PM for drinks and mingling. Please be seated by 6:00 PM; the program starts at 6:05 PM. The formal program ends at 9:30 PM, followed by the launch celebration. The reception’s end time is subject to venue clearance.
How do I get there and check in?
The Ferris, also known as Ferris & Co., is at 1 W. Monroe Street, Chicago, IL. The venue is near the Monroe stops on the Red and Blue Lines. Our welcome team at the street entrance will direct you to the elevator. Head to the 5th floor for ticket check-in, and have your ticket email ready.
Can I arrive after the debates begin?
Yes. Follow the same entrance and elevator directions. Our team will check your ticket and help you join the room quietly.
What does my ticket include?
Both live debates, the interactive session with Steve Franconeri and Dr. Iain Lampert, audience scoring and questions, and the Chicago launch celebration with pizza and drinks.
How do I take part in the debates?
No debate experience is needed. Scan the room-screen code with your phone to answer a short thought cloud before and after each debate. When scoring opens, score both speakers from 1 to 5 on persuasion, evidence, clarity and refutation. The host checks the totals before showing the result, then opens audience questions at the mic.
What happens in the interactive session?
Steve Franconeri and Dr. Iain Lampert lead demonstrations of how groups reason, then teach a conversation game you practice with a partner. You can join in without prior debate experience.
Can I take photos or share clips?
Yes. Photos and clips for social media are welcome. Keep your phone put away during speeches except when prompted to answer a thought cloud or score, so you can follow the arguments and make your judgment.
Will the evening be recorded?
Yes. A video crew is recording the debates. A public release date has not been announced.
Keep going
More debates to watch
Structured debates on the ideas that matter most. Watch the arguments, then score who makes the stronger case.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Chicago Debate Showcase
Explore the debate program and event details.
View program