The TalTech team was accompanied by Department of Business Administration members and organisers of the local round Aive Pevkur (judge), Katrin Arvola (debate moderator), and Tairi Tuulik (competition reporter). In the initial rounds, the TalTech team faced representatives from Hungary and Germany. Debaters were evaluated based on the depth of their case analysis, the quality of questions posed, the content of their responses, their answers to judges’ questions, and teamwork.

The semi-final cases examined AI’s role in the luxury watch production and autonomous transportation, with participants considering the ethical implications of using AI to monitor worker performance and the potential replacement of human drivers with autonomous vehicles. In the half-finals, four teams—France, Croatia, Portugal, and Luxembourg—debated a more personal AI application involving “digital cloning” for elder care, sparking discussions on privacy, deception, and commercialization. The final debate between Croatia and Portugal centered on the question, "Who should make the final moral decision—humans or AI?" which examined the ethical boundaries of decision-making in crucial contexts. Croatia ultimately defeated Portugal to win the competition.

TalTech students reflected positively on the experience, highlighting the value of teamwork and exposure to diverse perspectives. Veronica described the competition as “a beneficial kind of stress” and enjoyed building team communication from scratch. For Natalia, the event provided insights into different cultures, while Nicole found it to be a confidence boost that removed any fear of future class presentations.

Mentor Aive Pevkur emphasized the importance of AI-related topics, noting, “This year’s theme reflects the profound changes AI brings to both business and society. The debates showed that young people are aware of these challenges and feel a sense of responsibility for the future.” Katrin Arvola added, “One of the most important things you learn in this setting is how to handle emotions. Your brain only develops if you put pressure on it.”

The European Ethics Bowl provides a platform for students to engage in real-world ethical issues, preparing them to address complex AI challenges in their future careers. 

For more information, visit the European Ethics Bowl website or LinkedIn.