Should AI agents shop on behalf of humans? Oxford Style Debate

This House welcomes AI agents shopping on behalf of humans.

AI agents can already compare prices, fill carts and check out without you. This year, Amazon went to court to keep them out of its store. So who's right?

Two founders take opposite sides in a live, Oxford-style debate. You vote before it starts and again at the end. The side that changes the most minds wins.

The debaters

For the motion: John Lunsford, founder of Tethral AI. He's building a headless AI shopper that plugs into your favorite AI assistant and buys within limits you set.

Against the motion: Magesh Vadivelu, former Amazon seller. He built and sold his own US-designed fabric brand, Art and Aura, on Amazon, and knows firsthand how thin seller margins are. His question: when an AI agent shops wrong, who pays for the return?

I've tried it myself. I let a Grok bot order my lunch on Uber Eats, and it worked. I'm still arguing against. Coming in person or not, watch what happened before you pick a side:

The format

• Opening statements: 3 minutes each
• Two rounds of rebuttals: 3 minutes each
• Closing statements: 3 minutes each
• Final audience vote

There are no interruptions and no open Q&A. Just two founders, one motion and a room that decides.

Schedule

• 6:00 PM: Doors open and mingle
• 6:30 PM: Opening vote
• 6:45 PM: Debate
• 7:30 PM: Closing vote, winner announced, networking

Where
The lounge at Groundfloor, 455 Valencia St, San Francisco

Want to debate at a future event?
If you're building in AI, commerce or payments, email Debate@HobbyExplorer.com.

Want to become a moderator at a future event?
If you're building in AI, commerce or payments, email Moderate@HobbyExplorer.com

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