Intelligence Squared

Intelligence Squared is a media company that organizes live debates and other cultural events around the world.[1] It was founded in 2002 in London,[2] where its head office is based, and has affiliates in the US, Australia, and Hong Kong. The debates are held in the traditional Oxford style in front of a live audience. The company produces video and podcast programs, publishing on YouTube and other platforms.[3] Intelligence Squared is often referred to as Intelligence2 and IQ2.

Intelligence Squared
Founded2002 (2002)
HeadquartersNotting Hill, West London
No. of locationsLondon, New York City, Sydney, Athens, Hong Kong, Tel Aviv, Santiago
CEOMatt McAllester
URLwww.intelligencesquared.com

History

Intelligence Squared was founded by two media entrepreneurs, Jeremy O'Grady and John Gordon, in 2002.[4] In 2012, the company was bought by art consultant Amelie von Wedel, CEO of Serpentine Galleries Yana Peel, and Commonwealth Bank of Australia Executive General Manager David Legg.[5] Hannah Kaye has been executive producer since 2006, and Matt McAllester became managing director in 2018.[6] In addition to debates, Intelligence Squared also hosts interviews, discussions, and panels with such figures as President Jimmy Carter, Eric Schmidt, Sheryl Sandberg, Malala Yousafzai, Patti Smith, and Werner Herzog.

Intelligence Squared licensed the rights to the brand for global expansion, and Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates was established in 2006 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit media group by financier and philanthropist Robert Rosenkranz.[7][8][9][10]

Other Intelligence Squared licensees operate in Sydney (since 2008) and Hong Kong (since 2009). The company has also had partnerships in Kyiv (2008 – 2014), Athens (2010), Israel (2013), and Chile (2014). IQ2 debates in Australia are hosted by The Ethics Centre in Sydney.[11]

Debate Format

Intelligence Squared uses the traditional Oxford-Style debate format [12] inspired by the Oxford Union. A motion is proposed, with two speakers arguing in favour and two against. Opening remarks are around 10 minutes in length. This is followed by Q and A from the live audience and a lively dialogue between the speakers and short closing remarks by each debater in turn.[13] The audience is polled on their opinion both before and after the debate and the winning side is determined by the side which changed the most minds.

Another format they produce are "Cultural Combat" debates, in which two cultural figures are pitted against each other. These began in 2013 with "Verdi vs. Wagner", which was staged at London’s Royal Opera House with a sixty-piece live orchestra, Stephen Fry in the chair, and John Tomlinson singing Wotan. [14]

Debate topics include foreign policy, religion, history, social policy, politics, economics, science, technology, art, culture, and the environment. [15] [16]

Intelligence Squared U.S.

Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates was established in the United States in 2006 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit institution with a mission to raise the level of public discourse in America.[17] An award-winning[18] national radio program,[19] podcast,[20] television show, and digital platform,[21] Intelligence Squared U.S. has produced more than 200 live debates since 2006, and made history by hosting the first debate ever between an Artificial Intelligence and a human being, in partnership with IBM's "Project Debater.” [22] Intelligence Squared U.S. is often referred to as IQ2US.[23]

Intelligence Squared U.S. episodes have been broadcast on public radio since the series began,[24] in addition to Bloomberg Television,[25][26] BBC,[27] PBS,[28] Newsy,[29][30] C-SPAN,[31] and education streaming platform Wondrium.[32]

Podcast and Video

All Intelligence Squared events are recorded and released on the company’s YouTube channel[33] and as part of a weekly podcast series.[34] The company also records podcasts with authors and other intellectuals.[35]

Television

Intelligence Squared debates have also been broadcast globally on BBC World.[36]

Partnerships

Intelligence Squared has partnered with The New York Times,[37] Google,[38] and Vanity Fair.[39]

The first Intelligence Squared and Google VERSUS debate series, titled "It's Time to End the War on Drugs", was held on 13 March 2012.[40] The second Versus event was "Hip-hop On Trial".[41] Intelligence Squared has also staged events in partnership with Shell[42] on topics related to climate change and sustainable energy use. Other partnerships include The National Trust, Wellington College, Abbey Road Studios, Baker McKenzie in New York City, Investec, Christie's, the World Health Organization in New York, the United Nations in Geneva, and the University of Chicago.

References
  1. "About Intelligence Squared".
  2. Acherson, Neal (March 28, 2004). "How the chattering classes turned to talk". The Observer. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
  3. "About Intelligence Squared".
  4. Acherson, Neal (March 28, 2004). "How the chattering classes turned to talk". The Observer. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
  5. "Who We Are : Intelligence Squared". Intelligence Squared.
  6. "Who We Are".
  7. "How the Rosenkranz Foundation is injecting substance and civility into public policy discourse through its modern Oxford-style debate program".
  8. Konigsberg, Eric (June 2, 2007). "A Hobby That's Part Party, Part Debate, All Intellect". The New York Times.
  9. Jensen, Elizabeth (20 September 2009). "Pointed Political Debate, Minus All the Shouting". The New York Times. p. B5. Retrieved April 26, 2022. <\ref>The organization's mission is stated to "restore critical thinking, facts, reason, and civility to American public discourse."
  10. "About Intelligence Squared U.S." Intelligence Squared U.S. Official Website.
  11. "IQ2 Debates Australia". The Ethics Centre. 28 August 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  12. "Oxford-Style Debate, Explained". Intelligence Squared U.S. YouTube Channel. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  13. "Oxford-Style Debate, Explained". Intelligence Squared U.S. YouTube Channel. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  14. "Verdi vs Wagner: join the debate".
  15. "Intelligence Squared Debate Videos". Intelligence Squared.
  16. "Intelligence Squared U.S. All Debates".
  17. "About Intelligence Squared U.S." Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates. 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  18. "Intelligence Squared U.S. Awards". Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates. 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  19. "NPR Intelligence Squared Series Radio Program". NPR.
  20. "Apple Podcasts Intelligence Squared U.S."
  21. "Intelligence Squared U.S. Website".
  22. "AI Can Now Debate with Humans and Sometimes Convince Them Too". Scientific American. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  23. "IQ2US on Twitter".
  24. "NPR Intelligence Squared Series WNYC Radio Program Page".
  25. "Intelligence Squared Debates Examines America's Two-Party System". Globe Newswire. February 16, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  26. "Bloomberg Television and Intelligence Squared U.S. Announce Lineup for Debut "That's Debatable" Episode". Bloomberg Newsroom. September 18, 2020.
  27. "Intelligence Squared Debate on George W. Bush's Legacy". BBC. January 19, 2009. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  28. "WTTW National Production Intelligence Squared". WTTW PBS Station. January 20, 2013.
  29. "Up For Debate with Intelligence Squared U.S. and Newsy". Newsy. October 15, 2017. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  30. "2-Minute Debates with Intelligence Squared U.S. and Newsy". Newsy. December 3, 2018.
  31. "Intelligence Squared On the C-SPAN Networks". C-SPAN. May 2, 2018.
  32. "Intelligence Squared U.S. Collection on Wondrium". Wondrium. April 26, 2022.
  33. "Intelligence Squared YouTube Channel". YouTube. Intelligence Squared.
  34. "Intelligence Squared Podcasts". Intelligence Squared. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  35. "Intelligence Squared Podcasts on Apple". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  36. "BBC World News - Intelligence Squared Debate". BBC. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
  37. "The New York Times and Intelligence Squared Launch 'Intelligent Times' Live Event Series". The New York Times. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  38. "Intelligence2 Bespoke Debates". Intelligence Squared Google Partnership.
  39. "Intelligence Squared and Vanity Fair Digital Summit".
  40. "Versus Debate Series YouTube Channel".
  41. "Versus Debates Hip Hop on Trial".
  42. "Intelligence2 Bespoke Debates". Intelligence Squared.
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