Debate "Housekeeping" (05:13)

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John Donvan introduces the panelists and explains the debate format.

Opening Statement For: Ian Bremmer (06:09)

President of the Eurasia Group and author of "Us vs. Them: The Failure of Globalism," Bremmer describes how the country is divided. Lee Xi Jinping announced himself president for life; China ensures the hiring of inefficient labor. In the United States wages have not increased in the last 40 years.

Opening Statement Against: Andrew Keen (06:28)

Internet entrepreneur and author of "How to Fix the Furniture," Keen explains that no one knows what artificial intelligence will do to jobs and human beings will adjust. Bill Gates and Elon Musk believe that automation will create machines with consciousness. During the 19th century, people had the same concerns about the Industrial Revolution.

Opening Statement For: Yascha Mounk (06:25)

Senior fellow at New America, Mounk describes how individuals will no longer be able to find employment if AI succeeds. The more inequality there is in a society, the higher demand for re-distribution will be. Rich people will retreat to gated communities guarded by robots.

Opening Statement Against: Alina Polyakova (06:32)

Fellow at the Brooking's Institute, Polyakova explains that humanity is on the brink of the fourth industrial revolution. Inevitably some jobs will be lost that are currently performed by human beings. Democracies will be left behind if we do not give in to the technological revolution.

Great Promise for Democracy (09:33)

Donvan summarizes the opening statements. Bremmer explains how technology and globalization create more opportunities but people in our society today are not trained for the jobs. In the 20th Century, the United States introduced mass public education.

Individuals Response to Automation (02:32)

Mounk describes how both an individual who loses his job and one who owns an army of robots might be a danger to society. Stagnant incomes have increased the populist movement.

Functional or Crashing Democracy (07:45)

Bremmer provides Israel's behavior towards the Palestinians as an example of a crashing democracy. Keen and Polykova argue that AI technology will create new jobs. Machines cannot create empathy.

Faith in a Robust Democracy (04:08)

"Luddites" attacked cotton mills in England when they grew afraid they would lose their jobs. Machines are not human's enemies. Polyakova is skeptical that China will continue having such economic progress.

Q/A: A United States Problem (02:32)

Ian Bremmer explains that Japan is facing far less of a challenge because of its shrinking homogenous population. Keen counters that the general data protection regulation helps make big tech platforms accountable for its actions.

Q/A: Personal Agency (03:27)

Polyakova explains how people can use social media to advocate for themselves. Mounk describes how technology empowers radical voices.

Q/A: Role of Regulation (08:51)

Bremmer explains that technology companies are the most strategic companies and the most resistant to regulation. Donvan corrects Mounk's interpretation of Keen's stance on universal basic income. An example of a regulation that could be implemented is the Blue Eagle program used during the Great Depression.

Q/A: Government Controlling Automation (09:52)

Bremmer says China has more data while the United States has better scientists. In social contracts, the government acts as a referee that allows people to take advantage. Polyakova explains that the Russians did not elect President Trump.

Q/A: Businesses Delivering Automation (01:19)

Bremmer compares food companies not being regulated properly to automation today. Keen explains that Americans have reshaped other technologies to fit their lifestyle.

Concluding Statement For: Mounk (02:18)

Mounk notes that in principle both sides agree that democracies can implement measures to regulate automation. America needs to support the middle class in order to prevent a crash.

Concluding Statement Against: Polykova (02:19)

Polykova explains that automation technology is in opposition to authoritarian regimes. Russians use the Telegram messaging service to mobilize mass protests.

Concluding Statement For: Bremmer (02:14)

Bremmer describes how technologists are enamored of the fourth Industrial Revolution. There is one tenth the amount of horses as in the 19th century. There is no reason to believe that AI will not grow smarter than human beings.

Concluding Statement Against: Keen (02:37)

Keen describes how human beings will shape automation. The AI revolution might revitalize democracies. Human history is messy.

Time to Vote (03:40)

Donvan compliments panelists on their conduct and instructs the audience to vote. Bremmer appreciates how the opposition came up with good ways to address the issue. Keen expounds on Bremmer's point of anger in modern society.

Audience Vote Results (01:12)

Pre-Debate - For: 25% - Against: 49% - Undecided: 26% Post-Debate - For: 45% - Against: 47% - Undecided: 8%

Credits: Automation Will Crash Democracy: A Debate (00:09)

Credits: Automation Will Crash Democracy: A Debate