We have a serious problem.
Social media algorithms trap us in echo chambers, so we only see opinions that match our own.
How bad is it?
Researchers analyzed over 100 million posts across Facebook and Twitter. Liberals see just 24% opposing viewpoints. Conservatives? Only 35%.
We’re living in bubbles where our beliefs get reinforced. Never challenged.
But here’s the thing:
We do the same thing with business decisions (or any decisions for that matter).
Your brain loves confirmation bias. It looks for information that proves you’re right. But sometimes, you’re not right.
And when you’re making a decision that has real life consequences, not being right can be a bad thing…
That’s where the Simulated Debate AI trick can help.
Think of it as an antidote to single-perspective thinking.
Instead of one AI response that echoes your biases, you get a debate. Multiple expert personas. Opposing viewpoints. Real conflict.
Let me show you how it works.
How it Works: The Simulated Debate AI Trick
Using this trick is like setting up a stage for a play.
Step 1: Define the Topic of Debate
Clearly state the issue, question, or decision you want to explore. When you’re doing this, make sure to provide any relevant background information to the AI that it might need to have an intelligent debate.
For example, if you ask it something like “Should we increase our prices by 10%?”. Welp, the AI can’t simulate a debate until you explain more about your business (e.g., what your business sells, the products, the customers, etc).
Step 2: Assign the Personas
This step is key. Create two or more distinct, often conflicting, personas for the AI to embody. The more specific their roles and motivations, the better the debate.
For example:
Persona A: An aggressive, growth-focused VP of Marketing.Persona B: A data-driven, budget-conscious CFO.
Step 3: Command the Debate
Tell the AI to simulate a conversation, dialogue, or debate between the characters.
"Simulate a debate between [Persona A] and [Persona B] about [The Topic].""Write a conversation between... showing the points each would make."
Step 4: Analyze the Debate
Once the debate’s over, you can analyze the results.
Now, there might not be a clear winner. It might’ve ended up with an agree-to-disagree. But remember, you’re in charge here. The goal of this simulated debate is to get different perspectives.
So read through the debate. See if your perspectives changed. Maybe things need to be adjusted with how you proceed. Whatever issue, question, or decision you’re trying to figure out, this is your chance to reconsider.
Example of The Simulated Debate AI Trick
This technique’s super easy to use, but it’s also really powerful.
Let’s simulate a debate between a head of marketing and a head of events. We’ll have them debate on whether we should attend a trade show or spend the money on ads instead.
AI Prompt
Our B2B SaaS company sells project management software to mid-market companies and has a total annual marketing budget of $500,000. We’re currently at $8M in ARR and our board is pressuring us to reach $15M within 18 months to secure our next funding round. Last year, we spent $120,000 on InnovateCon (our industry’s flagship trade show), which generated 47 leads. On the other hand, our digital campaigns have consistently delivered a $200 cost-per-lead over the past six months with a clear 8% conversion rate to paid customers.
Simulate a debate between Chloe, our Head of Events, who is a huge advocate for trade shows, and Mark, our Head of Digital Marketing. What should we do?
AI Response
Chloe:
Look, I know everyone’s focused on digital efficiency right now, but we can’t underestimate what InnovateCon does for our brand and pipeline quality. The $120,000 investment last year gave us 47 highly qualified leads—that’s about $2,550 per lead, yes—but these aren’t cold clicks from LinkedIn. These are mid-market decision-makers who come ready to evaluate vendors.
Our post-event close rate from InnovateCon leads was nearly 20%, and most of those customers were $40K+ ACV deals. That’s not something our digital campaigns are delivering.
Mark:
I hear you, but the math doesn’t lie. Our digital campaigns bring in leads at $200 each, and we’re converting 8% of those into paying customers. That’s $2,500 CAC per customer. Even if your event leads convert at 20%, at $2,550 per lead, that’s a $12,750 CAC.
That’s 5x higher acquisition cost. Sure, the ACV might be a bit higher, but not enough to justify the difference.
Chloe:
But you’re thinking short-term. InnovateCon isn’t just about leads—it’s about visibility, relationships, and credibility. We got face time with several top-tier prospects we’d never reach through digital channels. Plus, event attendees influence purchasing decisions even if they don’t buy immediately.
And we also got speaking opportunities, PR exposure, and partner conversations that contributed to pipeline influence beyond just the 47 leads. It’s brand equity.
Mark:
I’m not discounting the brand lift, but we have 18 months to grow from $8M to $15M ARR. That’s about $7M in new ARR, meaning we need scalable channels.
Digital is scalable. For every $100,000 we put into digital, we can predict roughly:
– 500 leads ($200 CPL)
– 8% conversion → 40 new customers
– If our average ACV is $25K, that’s $1M ARR per $100K spent.
Trade shows can’t scale like that.
Chloe:
But the quality and influence of event deals matter. Many of those InnovateCon customers expanded within 6–9 months. Their net revenue retention is over 120%.
Digital leads are lower ACV, higher churn, and require more sales nurturing. The long-term ROI is very different when you factor in LTV instead of just initial CAC.
Mark:
Fair point on LTV, but that argument assumes we have infinite runway. The board is pressuring us for a funding milestone. Digital gives us predictable, repeatable acquisition with data we can optimize weekly. Events are high risk, high cost, and low iteration.
Chloe:
Then maybe it’s not either/or. What if we optimize events instead of cutting them? Maybe skip the $120K mega-booth and go for a $60K presence plus targeted networking dinners. That keeps the relationship-building value while freeing up $60K for your campaigns.
Mark:
That’s reasonable. If we reallocate 70–80% of the budget to digital and keep 20–30% for brand and partnership initiatives like InnovateCon, we’ll hit growth targets and maintain visibility.
CEO (Moderator):
So, what I’m hearing is:
– Mark’s digital plan offers faster, measurable ROI and scalability.
– Chloe’s event strategy offers brand credibility and higher LTV potential.
– Let’s run a hybrid allocation—maybe $350K digital, $100K events, $50K experimental (ABM or partner co-marketing)—and compare CAC:LTV ratios quarterly.
WOW!
That’s pretty cool, right?
Now, I don’t know what side you’re on: trade shows or digital ads. But do you see how easy it is with AI to break out of your echo chamber and listen to alternative views?
I also think it’s kind of cool that the AI added a “CEO (Moderator)” role at the end. It summed up both sides and their points.
From this simple example, it’s easy to tell tell that the Simulated Debate trick is super powerful when used it in the right situations.
Advantages for Marketers and Sales Pros
- See the Decision From All Angles: This is the ultimate tool for breaking out of your own “echo chamber” and seeing the valid arguments against your own position.
- Anticipate Objections and Prepare Counter-Arguments: The debate script is your cheat sheet for an upcoming meeting. You can walk in knowing every potential objection and have a smart answer ready.
- Stress-Test Your Own Strategies: The AI debate will quickly poke holes in any lazy assumptions or wishful thinking, forcing you to build a much stronger, more defensible case for your ideas.
- Make More Balanced, Defensible Choices: A decision made after rigorously considering both sides is always stronger and easier to justify to your team and to leadership.
When to Use This Pattern
This pattern is perfect for exploring the tensions and trade-offs behind any significant business decision.
- Evaluating Strategic Moves:
"Debate the pros and cons of our fashion brand adopting a 'sustainability-first' marketing message." - Making Budgeting or Pricing Decisions:
"Simulate a conversation between a Sales Director and a Product Manager about whether to offer a 'freemium' version of our software." - Considering a Rebrand or New Messaging:
"Debate whether our brand voice should be more playful and casual or more formal and authoritative." - Deciding on Company Policy:
"Have a VP of HR and a VP of Engineering debate the merits of a mandatory return-to-office policy."