This presentation discusses a multiple-case study exploring college students' experiences using an AI-empowered language training platform to enhance their debate skills. Participants were first-year students in an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course at an English-medium instruction (EMI) university in China. Over 10 weeks, students engaged with the platform for discussion and debate practices. The study, part of a larger project, qualitatively examines participants' perspectives on the tool's effectiveness and challenges based on post-intervention semi-structured interviews. Findings reveal that students generally valued the AI platform for reducing their English-speaking anxiety and providing flexible practice opportunities. However, challenges became evident, including students' lack of sustained motivation in using the tool. Participants also expressed a preference for practice with peers, citing the richness of real-time interaction and emotional engagement that AI simulations could not fully replicate. Additionally, students reported that the AI platform struggled to detect and address logical fallacies in their debate arguments. They found the discussions with the chatbots to be predominantly superficial and lacking intellectual rigor, limiting their usefulness for developing critical thinking and debate skills. This study emphasizes the importance of integrating human-centered interaction and more advanced AI capabilities to create robust and intellectually engaging learning environments.