Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2026, from 6 PM to 8 PM (doors open at 5:30 PM)
Location: Shriver Hall, Johns Hopkins University Homewood Campus, Baltimore
3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
Parking: For directions, visit South Garage and Shriver Hall.
Whether welcomed or resisted, artificial intelligence (AI) has made its way into conversations, especially on college campuses. Several studies indicate that a significant number of college students actively engage with AI tools, but opinions are divided on whether this technology serves as a beneficial resource or an obstacle to educational development.
Concerns are mounting as reports of increased cheating arise, coupled with professors reporting challenges in identifying AI-generated work. Many fear that the use of AI may lead to cognitive offloading, potentially causing more detrimental effects than any undesired grades students may try to evade.
Conversely, some view AI as a promising ally, providing tailored tutoring experiences through tools such as flashcards and quizzes. Furthermore, as workplaces progressively adopt AI technologies, equipping students with practical skills to use AI relevant to their fields may become crucial for their future success.
As academia navigates the rapid influx of technological innovations, the central question emerges: Will Generative AI Enhance or Stunt College Learning?
Claim your free ticket today! All participants are invited to join a reception following the debate.
Presenting the “Enhance” Argument:
- Rumman Chowdhury, CEO of Humane Intelligence PBC; former U.S. Science Envoy for Artificial Intelligence
- Ravi Pendse, Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer at the University of Michigan
Presenting the “Stunt” Argument:
- Cathy O’Neil, Mathematician and Data Scientist
- Gary Marcus, Prominent AI expert and Professor Emeritus at NYU; author of the “Marcus on AI” Substack
The debate will be moderated by the acclaimed Emmy award-winning journalist John Donvan.
This event is a key component of the Johns Hopkins Data Science and AI Institute’s Fall 2026 Symposium, themed “Artificial Intelligence and Human Learning.” The discussion will be recorded live and broadcasted to a wider audience via Open to Debate’s YouTube channel, podcast platforms, and over 250 NPR stations.
The Hopkins Forum Series
This debate marks the seventh installment of The Hopkins Forum series, a collaboration between Open to Debate and Johns Hopkins University’s Stavros Niarchos Foundation Agora Institute. This prominent series features live debates in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, uniting varied viewpoints to address some of the most urgent topics of our time.
