PBSC student Augustin Gervasio wins College's Grand Debate competition

Palm Beach State student Augustin Gervasio was declared the winner of the College’s Grand Debate competition held Wednesday, Oct. 23 at PBSC’s Lake Worth campus.

PBSC student Isabella Munoz received second place and Luis Rojas third.

Gervasio and Munoz now go on to compete in the statewide competition against other students from the Florida College System in the 3rd annual Grand Debate on Thursday, Nov. 21 at St. Petersburg College.

Rojas will be the alternate in the state competition if Gervasio and Munoz can’t compete.

Augustin and Catalina competed amongst eight students who debated the pros and cons of Artificial Intelligence.

Competition judges were: Arthur Berger, Public Broadcasting Service’s senior director of innovation and technology; Commissioner and State Senator-Elect for District 24 Dr. Mack Bernard; German Lettieri, managing director at SEIDOR; PBSC speech professor Catherine Montero; and Debra Tendrich, executive editor of Eat Better Live Better and candidate for Florida House District 89.

Political Science Professor Dr. Kevin Coakley served as the debate coach and oversaw the Grand Debate initiative.

Gervasio, who is originally from Boca Raton and plans to go to law school, said his best argument was against AI.

“AI has so many inefficiencies and errors that have terrible consequences,” he explained during the debate. “This will cost companies a lot of money which will ultimately lead to employees being laid off.”

Munoz, who graduated from Wellington High School, also thought her best argument was against AI.

“The implementation of AI would be detrimental because it would take away the availability of customer service jobs,” said Munoz who plans to transfer to Florida Atlantic University’s Wilkes Honors College and major in biomedical engineering.

Special guests at the debate included Sam Jenkins, associate director for The Institute for Strategic Policy Solutions, at St. Petersburg College. For more information on the upcoming statewide debate, click here.