Since these are AI related, I thought I’d share them here.
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I’m excited to be back for the WSDA national tournament. I feel very lucky to be here.
As Jeff (Feyiya) mentioned, I first met him 14 years ago when I accepted a cold call and his pitch to help develop a debate program in China.
Shortly after the call, I agreed to meet him in his New York office and he handed me a gift from Dipont – a “thumb drive” that I could use to download all of my computer files onto. I did accept the gift, but I must admit that I waited 5 years until I put any computer files on it.
I was, of course, skeptical, but Jeff showed me a magazine produced by Dipont called World Education -- or WE --that was edited by Lili Ma, who still works at Dipont part-time. I thought to myself: No one would go through the trouble of producing an entire print magazine just to scam someone. So, I agreed to go to China, and a week after meeting Jeff in his office I landed in Shanghai.
The magazine is no longer in print, with content moved to social media, but the debate organization you compete under – the WeSchool Debate Association – WSDA – got its name from that.
And Lili continues to inspire confidence. This morning, I met the Headmaster of this beautiful school, and she introduced herself as Lili. I immediately thought – ok, this tournament is going to go well.
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The first time I was in China was when I came with Jeff in December 2011 and then I was back in June of 2012 for teacher training and then August , 13 years ago, when this national tournament started.
Some things were different then.
*Some of us were 1-2 years younger
*The US had a different President
*ChatGPT wasn’t around — which meant we actually had to write our own school papers and work emails.
Many things have changed over the last 13 years, and we’ve all learned many things.
For example, at the start of the 4th year of the tournament, I focused my remarks on the #4. Later that evening, someone told me the #4 was an unlucky # in China and that I should not have talked about that. So, if you end up giving a speech that doesn’t go over so well, remember that you can always rebound.
But today I cannot dwell on the #13 either as that is quite an unlucky # in the US.
Instead, I will suggest three things that you will take away from here.
First, the friendships forged at speech and debate tournaments. You’ll remember the travel with friends and family to the tournament, the whispered pep talks in crowded hallways, the thrill of advancing to the next round, and even the sting of a tough loss. As Jeff said, we may even have some tears today.
These are not just moments — they are bonds, built through shared challenge and mutual respect.
Years from now, you may forget the scores on the ballots, but you’ll remember the teammates who had your back and the rivals who pushed you to be better. Some will be friends for life. Some will be leaders in business and government. Some will start institutions like WSDA China and support tens of thousands of students.
I am fortunate to have made many friends over the years from Dipont – Jeff, Joe, Olivia, Denis. Those, of course, are the English names they must adopt because they think us Americans are not smart enough to learn Chinese names.
I’ve also had the chance to get to better know some of the US coaches who are working here such as Cale.
And I made a young friend as well. During last week’s debate camp, I had the chance to judge Henry, a very persuasive debater. When I walked into the lobby of the hotel yesterday, the first person I saw was Henry and gave him a high-five. He told me he finished second in the camp tournament, and we got a great photo.
Second, communication skills in an AI world. Technology will keep advancing, and yes — AI writes essays, draft arguments, even generate speeches. But it cannot replace your human voice — your ability to look someone in the eye, to persuade, to inspire, to listen. In a future overflowing with machine-made words, it is the genuine, human connections that will cut through the noise and help you secure the coveted job or business deal. And maybe even a date; certainly, a friend.
Third, the courage to debate the issues of your time. Your generation will inherit tough questions without easy answers: Is it ethical to replace human teachers and even debate judges with AIs? If robots do most of the jobs, should we all be granted a universal basic income? Should human decision-making always be the final authority over AI, even if the AI is more accurate? Should the humanities or STEM take the lead in defining our future? These are not abstract debates — they are topics you are already debating, and they are decisions that will shape economies, societies, and identities. And your generation will be the one to shift the outcomes.
So, when you walk out into the world, take the friendships that will keep you strong, the communication skills that will keep you heard, and the courage that will keep you leading. The next chapter isn’t waiting for permission — it’s waiting for you. Step forward. Speak up. Lead the way. It’s your world.