In a captivating semifinal showdown of the Speaker’s National Youth Debating Competition, the Child Rights Ambassadors Youth Group emerged victorious, securing a spot in the finals against the University of Guyana Berbice Campus Orators’ Youth Group.
The competition, held at the Chamber of the Public Building, saw passionate debates on the moot: “Artificial intelligence is a threat to democracy.”
Jayda Overton, speaking for the Child Rights Ambassadors, argued fervently that artificial intelligence poses a significant threat to democracy.
She illustrated her point by referencing the potential misuse of AI to create misleading political content, such as deep-fake videos of public figures making inflammatory statements.
On the opposing side, Felisha Mohamed from the University of Guyana Berbice Campus Orators’ Youth Group countered that AI itself is rooted in democratic principles and serves to enhance democratic processes rather than undermine them.
She cited a United Nations article from 2023 to bolster her argument that AI, by definition, cannot pose a threat to democracy.
After an intense exchange of ideas and rebuttals, the judges awarded the Child Rights Ambassadors Youth Group a total of 205.1 points, securing their place in the finals.
The University of Guyana Berbice Campus Orators’ Youth Group received 188 points for their compelling arguments.
The final match of the Speaker’s National Youth Debating Competition will take place on Thursday, June 13 at 2 pm in the Chamber of the Public Building.
It promises to be a riveting event as the Child Rights Ambassadors Youth Group faces off against the Helpful Hands Youth Group.
The entire debate will be livestreamed on Parliament’s Website, Facebook, and YouTube pages, allowing audiences across Guyana to witness the intellectual battle unfold.