Students discuss pros and cons of Artificial Intelligence

Ashok Raina

Dharamsala, August 28

Whether Artificial Intelligence(AI) is a boon or bane for society was hotly debated by students of different schools of Kangra district. Students pitted their best oratory skills with convincing arguments to prove their point during "The Tribune Inter School Debate -2018" in the auditorium of Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Sidhpur, on Tuesday.

As many as 22 students, most of them girls, participated in the debate from 11 schools of the district. Eleven students described Artificial Intelligence a boon for society and equal number of students described it as a bane. Sandeep Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, who was the chief guest on the occasion said, “To change with the times is important because if we fail to do so, we may lag behind”. He said emotional intelligence was more important than artificial intelligence. He suggested, “Science was the biggest gift to mankind and we need not use it against ourselves.”

Sister Molly Cherian, Principal, Sacred Heart School, who was the guest of honour, in her speech said though Artificial Intelligence was a boon, it needed a human touch to make it result oriented. She said, “We are the masters of the universe and we should not fall prey to Artificial Intelligence”.

Dr Punnet Sood, HoD (Information technology),Technical Education Department, who was one of the judges, stressed that Artificial Intelligence could not replace human intelligence and human moral values. Shruti Sharma, Assistant Professor, Government Degree College, Dharamsala, another judge at the event said Artificial Intelligence had become part and parcel of life but human touch was also needed.

Some participants said Artificial Intelligence had created unemployment and people had become too dependent on it. Some said Artificial Intelligence could replace the human brain in future. While some participants were of the views that Artificial intelligence was making life of the people comfortable and easy.

Aryan Nehria, Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Sidhpur, Dharamsala, bagged the first prize which consisted of a citation, memento and cash prize of Rs 6,000, Divyangna Trivedi of Army Public School, Yol Cantonment, bagged the second prize and walked away with a citation, a memento and cash prize of Rs 4,000 and Prakriti Singh of Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Sidhpur, Dharamsala, got the third prize and received a citation, a memento and cash prize of Rs 3,000.

Consolation prize of Rs 1,500 each was bagged by Aditi of Rainbow International, Nagrota Bagwan, Srishty Abrol, Achiever’s Hub Public School, Dari, Dharamsala, and Priyanshi Saini, GAV Public School, Kangra. Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Sidhpur, Dharamsala, was adjudged the Best School and got cash award of Rs 3,000. The programme was sponsored by Helix Institute.

The students participated from Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Sidhpur, Dharamsala, Army Public School, Yol Cantt, Rainbow International, Nagrota Bagwan, Achiever’s Hub Public School, Dari, Dharamsala, GAV Public School, Kangra, Green Field Senior Secondary School, Nagrota Bagwan, Jai Public School, Banuri, DAV Public School, Palampur, DAV Public School, Dehra, Spring Dale Public Senior Secondary School, Bhedu Mahadev and Paras Public School, Bhawarna.

Winners

Aryan Nehria, Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Sidhpur, Dharamsala,

First prize: a citation, memento and cash prize of Rs 6,000

Divyangna Trivedi of Army Public School, Yol Cantonment

Second prize: a citation, a memento and cash prize of Rs 4,000

Prakriti Singh of Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Sidhpur, Dharamsala

Third prize: a citation, a memento and cash prize of Rs 3,000.

Consolation prize winners

Rs 1,500 each

Aditi of Rainbow International, Nagrota Bagwan

Srishty Abrol, Achiever’s Hub Public School, Dari, Dharamsala,

Priyanshi Saini, GAV Public School, Kangra.

Best School

Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Sidhpur, Dharamsala,

Cash award of Rs 3,000

Schools that participated

Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Sidhpur, Dharamsala,

Army Public School, Yol Cantt

Rainbow International, Nagrota Bagwan

Achiever’s Hub Public School, Dari, Dharamsala

GAV Public School, Kangra

Green Field Senior Secondary School, Nagrota Bagwan

Jai Public School, Banuri

DAV Public School, Palampur

DAV Public School, Dehra

Spring Dale Public Senior Secondary School, Bhedu Mahadev and Paras Public School, Bhawarna