Description

Join Innovation Forum at the Riverport Café Bar in the Corn Exchange, St Ives for a structured public debate about AI ethics and safety. Together, we will ask how powerful artificial intelligence should be tested and governed. We will also consider how to preserve its benefits.

AI now writes, plans and makes recommendations. It is also moving into vehicles, robots and other physical machines. These developments offer major opportunities. However, they also create risks for families, workplaces and public life.

No specialist knowledge is required. The event welcomes technologists, policymakers, parents, researchers and curious citizens. Come to question both sides, contribute to the open mic or simply listen.

The central question

Can society create enforceable safeguards for powerful AI while supporting useful innovation? How do we protect people without slowing beneficial research? How do we avoid rules that entrench large companies or leave responsible developers behind less cautious international competitors?

Red Team and Blue Team

The speakers will be assigned positions for the debate. These roles test the arguments and do not necessarily represent their personal views.

Red Team: Makes the case for enforceable ethical standards. It proposes independent testing, clear liability, human oversight and strict safeguards for AI in vehicles, robots and machinery.

The Red Team must explain which rules are measurable and how they would be enforced. It must also show why voluntary commitments are insufficient.

Blue Team: Scrutinises those proposals and their unintended consequences. It argues for proportionate, risk-based regulation. Its case must protect useful innovation, smaller developers and international competitiveness.

The Blue Team must explain how flexible rules would prevent serious harm. It must also offer credible protections for the public.

Both teams receive equal opening and rebuttal time. They work from the same motion and shared evidence. Each side answers challenges from the other team and the audience.

Neither team is treated as being against safety or against innovation. Both must address evidence, benefits, risks and trade-offs.

Why this debate matters

First, AI systems can make mistakes at speed and scale. When software controls a physical machine, those mistakes may cause real harm. Clear testing, human oversight and emergency controls can reduce that risk.

However, AI may improve science, education, healthcare, accessibility and public services. Poorly designed regulation could delay those benefits. It could also restrict competition or favour organisations with the largest compliance budgets.

Finally, children will live longest with the choices made today. A serious debate must examine the danger of weak safeguards. It must also consider the cost of preventing useful technologies from reaching society.

How the evening works

• A neutral chair introduces the motion, definitions and shared evidence.
• The Red Team presents a five-minute opening case.
• The Blue Team presents a five-minute opening case.
• Each team receives equal rebuttal time.
• The teams question each other.
• A moderated open mic gives participants up to two minutes each.
• Both teams identify safeguards and principles they can support.
• The audience votes on the most practical next steps.

What we will explore

• Whether AI can or should follow an ethical framework.
• Mandatory testing and independent oversight of powerful AI.
• Safety rules for AI operating vehicles, robots and machinery.
• Human control, liability and emergency safeguards.
• The costs, benefits and unintended effects of regulation.
• The role of national law and international agreements.
• Practical action that citizens can take now.

AI ethics and safety in practice

The discussion will focus on workable next steps. For current government research, explore the UK AI Security Institute. You can also learn about the Innovation Forum community and its work connecting science, policy and entrepreneurship.

We will collect the strongest proposals from both teams and the audience. Participants can then choose whether to develop a petition, policy note or local working group. The aim is to turn debate about AI ethics and safety into constructive action.

Who can take part

The event is open to everyone, regardless of technical knowledge or professional background. Respectful disagreement is encouraged. Sales pitches and personal attacks are not.

Event details

• Date: Thursday 12 November 2026
• Doors: 6:30 pm
• Time: 7:00–8:30 pm
• Duration: 90 minutes
• Venue: Riverport Café Bar, Corn Exchange, St Ives
• Format: In-person, moderated team debate and open mic
• Tickets: £5 per person (to cover costs)
• Places: Limited, advance registration recommended