Wednesday, October 21
Scheduled date passed
Explore the Chicago Debate Showcase program: debates on artificial intelligence, audience questions, and conversation at The Ferris.
Conversation beyond the stage
A different kind of night out
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
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
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
Resolved: Over the next decade, efforts to make AI use in healthcare safer should prioritize human oversight over technical safeguards.
Closing session · Interactive
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 UniversitySales paused
$30per person
The same evening, at the regular price.
Sales paused
$60per person
The whole evening, with a little more recognition for making it possible.
Scheduled date passed. New ticket sales are closed. Keep your existing ticket link for booking details.
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.
For bookings of more than 30 tickets, email john@superdebate.org.
The running order
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
5:30 PM CDT – 9:30 PM CDT
Check-in, drinks and conversation
A welcome, thanks to our sponsors and Patrons, and how the evening works
Joshua D. Sarnoff and Jordana R. Goodman. Thought clouds before and after, audience scoring, then your questions
Ten minutes
Maia Jacobs and Manling Li. Thought clouds before and after, audience scoring, then your questions
Ten minutes
An interactive session with Steve Franconeri and Dr. Iain Lampert
Pizza, drinks and conversation
The people in the room
All four Chicago Debate Showcase nights will have the SuperDebate team in the room. John will host, Matthew will MC, and Iain will moderate the featured debates.
Founder · Host
John founded SuperDebate to make rigorous, welcoming debate part of everyday life. He will host each Showcase evening.
Featured-debate moderator
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 leads partnerships and live experiences. He will MC the evening, connect the program, and keep the energy moving between debates.
Be part of it
Scheduled date passed
Explore the debate program and the published event details.
View programPackages open
Support an evening that brings Chicago’s technology, business and intellectual communities together. Explore partnership opportunities for your organization.
Sponsor the nightNo 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
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
Chicago Debate Club hosts regular debates and conversation.
Find the next gathering and see how to join.
The Chicago series
The Chicago Debate Showcase returns to The Ferris on these dates. Each edition's question is announced as its program comes together.
No. 2
Wednesday, November 18, 2026
The Ferris
No. 3
Wednesday, December 16, 2026
The Ferris
No. 4
Wednesday, January 20, 2027
The Ferris
With thanks
Their support brings the debates to the stage and the conversation into the reception. Meet the organizations joining us on October 21.
Bring your organization into the next SuperDebate showcase.
Explore sponsorshipGood to know
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.
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.
Yes. Follow the same entrance and elevator directions. Our team will check your ticket and help you join the room quietly.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Yes. A video crew is recording the debates. A public release date has not been announced.
Keep going
Structured debates on the ideas that matter most. Watch the arguments, then score who makes the stronger case.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Explore the debate program and event details.
View program
