Oxford-style debate / AI safety & governance

Oxford-style debate: Should we pause development of frontier models?

Four debaters argued for and against pausing frontier AI development until governance catches up.

10 June 2026Chicago · Fulton MarketOxford-style debate

From the event

4 photographs

A wide view of the Chicago debate with the panel to the left and audience seated across the room. — The AI safety debate in Fulton Market, Chicago · June 2026.

Four debaters seated at high tables, with one speaking and gesturing toward the room. — Opposing positions on whether frontier AI development should pause.

Audience members listening to the four-person panel in front of the debate voting screens. — Researchers, practitioners and community members in conversation.

A participant in a dark suit speaking into a microphone during the debate. — A participant makes his case during the debate.

About the conversation

Convened with the Chicago BlueDot Impact community and Portal Innovations, this Oxford-style debate examined whether frontier AI development should pause while governance catches up. The event brought opposing positions into a shared public conversation.

“AI labs should pause development of frontier models until governance catches up.”

In conversation

For the motion

Max Harms

Machine Intelligence Research Institute

For the motion

Khullani Abdullahi

Founder of Techné AI

Against the motion

Autumn Dorsey

The Heritage Foundation

Against the motion

Blaine Dillingham

Foundation for American Innovation

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