THBT Relationships with AI should be Normalised.
Doors open at 19:30, the debate starts at 20:00.
Due to fire safety the event is capped at 160 participants.
This debate will mark the kickoff to our Debate Marathon! Stay tuned for more information coming soon.
Details
Doors open 30 minutes before the advertised time.
Date and time
Thursday, 19 February 2026 at 20:00:00 UTC
Venue
Lower Parliament Hall, South Street, St Andrews UK.
Venue
Results
Speakers
Dr Steve Loughnan
Dr Steven Loughnan is a social psychology professor at the University of Edinburgh with a focus on the psychology of dehumanization and objectification. He has also co-authored publications on the ethics of AI romance.
Dr James Muldoon
Dr James Muldoon is an associate professor at the Essex Business School and and research associate at the Oxford Internet Institute. His research focuses on human interaction with AI and is included in his latest book, Love Machines, which investigates how people form relationships with AI.
Abbie Lewis
Abbie Lewis is a German third year student and head of competitive debate at the UDS.
Dr David Levy
David Levy is am AI researcher, British International Master of chess, author, and entrepreneur noted for his work on computer chess and artificial intelligence. He founded the Computer Olympiads and the Mind Sports Olympiads and has written more than 40 books on AI, chess and computing. Notably, Levy is also the author of Love and Sex with Robots, in which he argues that human relationships with machines will become commonplace as technology advances.