Open to Debate

Should we stop trusting AI agents with our information?

AI agents can now manage our calendars, shop and send messages for us, but to do that they need access to our accounts, contacts and personal data. Supporters say agents can make everyday tasks, and even protecting our privacy, easier for everyone. Critics argue they open security risks that no one has solved yet.

Arguing Yes: @mer__edith, President of @signalapp

Arguing No: @neil_chilson, Head of AI Policy at @abundanceinst

Jeff Berman, Co-Host of @mastersofscale, moderates. Post-debate conversation led by @JohnDonvan, Moderator-in-Chief of Open to Debate.

This debate was produced in partnership with Masters of Scale and recorded live at their Summit in San Francisco on October 22, 2026.

Watch the full debate: youtube.com/watch?v=DvZY3L…

Can AI agents be kept safe from hackers?

@mer__edith argues that attackers can hide instructions on ordinary websites that trick an agent into doing harm, and even the best-funded AI labs haven't solved the problem.

@neil_chilson counters that layers of safeguards can keep the risk in check, just as we learned to manage computer viruses without ever eliminating them.

Watch the full debate: bit.ly/4k6Oenn

Will Generative AI Enhance or Stunt College Learning? Which side do you predict will make the stronger case?

Arguing "Enhance": @RaviPendse and Edward Maloney
Arguing "Stunt": @mathbabedotorg and @GaryMarcus

Does an AI agent deserve the same trust as a human assistant?

@neil_chilson argues that trusting an AI agent with calendars and finances gives everyday people access to the kind of personal assistance once reserved for the wealthy.

@mer__edith counters that a human assistant can be held accountable for the private information they handle, while an AI agent with deep access to our data can't, and its mistakes can put people in danger.

Watch the full debate: youtube.com/watch?v=DvZY3L…

Congress is reviewing the U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal now. If America walks away, would China step in?

@Cirincione argues China has never sold enrichment or reprocessing equipment to any country, so there's no reason to think it would start with Saudi Arabia.

@SquassoniSharon adds that keeping that technology from spreading is one of the few things the U.S., China, and Russia have agreed on for decades.

@amoshochstein counters that Russia has broken its word before, and China is a competitor trying to push America out of its lead in the global economy.

Watch the full debate: bit.ly/4f9vShW