8th grader builds an AI debate coach | DebateLabs | Flintolabs Demo Day

Have you ever known what you wanted to say, but struggled to find the words when someone challenged your opinion? Or thought of the perfect response only after the conversation was over? For many students, speaking up and defending an argument can feel intimidating. Especially when the first chance to practice is in front of other people. What if they had a place to practice without worrying about getting it wrong? That's the problem Mithra, an 8th grader, set out to solve. She built DebateLabs, an AI debate partner that lets students practice arguments, take either side of a topic, and receive feedback on how well they made their case. The AI debates with you through opening arguments, rebuttals, and closing statements. Then it switches roles to become a judge, evaluating your reasoning and explaining how you can improve. But Mithra didn't stop there. She went beyond the original project requirements, adding voice debates, evidence research, and a mode that helps students prepare their arguments before debating. What I find so meaningful is that Mithra wasn't just using AI to get answers. She was building something that could help other students think more clearly, consider different perspectives, and find the confidence to speak up. And along the way, she was developing those same skills herself: curiosity, independent thinking, and the confidence to take an idea further. That's the kind of learning we love seeing at Flintolabs. 🚀 Try Mithra's DebateLabs: https://www.flintolabs.com/marketplac... 📖 Read Mithra's story: https://www.flintolabs.com/blog/stude... 💜 About Flintolabs Flintolabs is a pre-college AI residency for students in grades 6–12. With guidance from mentors, students build real products with AI while developing critical thinking, confidence, judgment, and problem-solving skills. Website: https://www.flintolabs.com/ Instagram:   / flintolabs   TikTok:   / flintolabs   LinkedIn:   / flintolabs   What's one topic you'd love to debate if you could practice without an audience? #Flintolabs #DebateLabs #AIDebateCoach #StudentBuilders #CriticalThinking