Recap
A Showdown of Ideas at Tech Duels 2025
NYU SPS and Tandon Students Debate the Future of AI and Emerging Technologies

<p><span class="p-body">On April 11, 2025, students from the NYU Tandon School and NYU SPS went head-to-head in a spirited debate addressing some of the most pressing topics in technology, AI, and innovation.</span></p>
<p><span class="p-body">Debate topics included <i>AI and the Future of Jobs: Innovation or Job Loss?</i> and <i>Should Governments Impose Stricter Regulations on Data-driven Innovation to Protect Privacy, Even at the Cost of Technological Advancement? </i>The debates were judged by Bhavana Singh, global director of NCC Group; Phil Calçado, founder of Outropy; and Melanie Stavenow, intelligence analyst at the National Cyber-Forensics & Training Alliance (NCFTA).</span></p>
<p><span class="p-body">Attendees cheered on their favorite teams as they learned about emerging trends, ethical dilemmas, and future implications of tech advancements from multiple perspectives. A networking reception followed the debates, where attendees met and mingled with industry professionals and like-minded students passionate about tech and innovation.</span></p>
The debates raised important questions about how we use data and the need to protect privacy as technology continues to evolve. It definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way. Having limited time to speak made me think more critically about how to communicate ideas.
Zilola Kurbonova
Master's Candidate in Human Capital Analytics and Technology