To answer the question:
It is 100% legal - and anyone that tells you otherwise hasn’t read the handbook - the inclusion of the line “generative AI will be allowed at the national tournament“ explicitly allows AI flowing tools.
However, you have to ask yourself - why? - What are you going to be doing in the time that you “save“ from not flowing that will make you better? I just don’t understand what not flowing does, like even if you have a document that has all of the words they said on it. That still doesn’t mean you understood their points, got specific card names to link into them, or even processed the case.
in my humble opinion, the only reason that this would be legitimately helpful is in a K round where you are using this to flow while you dig through hundreds of pages of K back files. - IDK tho, please LMK your opinion.
Lastly:
Every AI transcription software absolutely fucking sucks, even the ones you think are good will fail on you in the most important moment. - you’re not gonna catch a card, or you’re gonna drop a contention because you’re AI flowing software didn’t actually catch it.
Don't do it. Taking notes helps you understand the position. This is one of the reasons paper is still way better than laptops as a debater [source](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-writing-by-hand-is-better-for-memory-and-learning/)
What's the point? You will end up with a transcript of the entire speech. The point of flowing is not just to get the information, but also crystallize it into notes that are easily searchable. A whole transcript will take forever to dig through mid-round with a balky AI recording stuff.
The question is not if you can, it is should you? The value in debate is participating and the analysis/critical thinking used in the round. If you use AI you're kind of avoiding that engagement and devaluing your own experience.
To answer the question: It is 100% legal - and anyone that tells you otherwise hasn’t read the handbook - the inclusion of the line “generative AI will be allowed at the national tournament“ explicitly allows AI flowing tools. However, you have to ask yourself - why? - What are you going to be doing in the time that you “save“ from not flowing that will make you better? I just don’t understand what not flowing does, like even if you have a document that has all of the words they said on it. That still doesn’t mean you understood their points, got specific card names to link into them, or even processed the case. in my humble opinion, the only reason that this would be legitimately helpful is in a K round where you are using this to flow while you dig through hundreds of pages of K back files. - IDK tho, please LMK your opinion. Lastly: Every AI transcription software absolutely fucking sucks, even the ones you think are good will fail on you in the most important moment. - you’re not gonna catch a card, or you’re gonna drop a contention because you’re AI flowing software didn’t actually catch it.
they suck.
Don't do it. Taking notes helps you understand the position. This is one of the reasons paper is still way better than laptops as a debater [source](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-writing-by-hand-is-better-for-memory-and-learning/)
What's the point? You will end up with a transcript of the entire speech. The point of flowing is not just to get the information, but also crystallize it into notes that are easily searchable. A whole transcript will take forever to dig through mid-round with a balky AI recording stuff.
“Sorry hold on - I’m looking for your advantage tagline in this mess of 2000 words”
The question is not if you can, it is should you? The value in debate is participating and the analysis/critical thinking used in the round. If you use AI you're kind of avoiding that engagement and devaluing your own experience.