How to be an "apocalyptic optimist" | Dana R. Fisher

Dana R. Fisher calls herself an "apocalyptic optimist" based on her research as a sociologist of large social movements. Her studies suggest that ever-increasing climate disasters will get people out in the streets demanding the action we need. She..

Can Europe win the age of AI? | Thomas Dohmke

GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke discusses Europe's readiness to lead the next era of AI innovation, examining how the continent's tech ecosystems stack up against those in the US. In conversation with TEDAI Vienna co-curator Vlad Gozman, Dohmke explains the..

K-pop, cutting-edge tech and other ways Asia is shaping the world | Neeraj Aggarwal

For a long time, the conveyor belt of ideas moved from the West to the East, says business strategy expert Neeraj Aggarwal. But now, Asia’s rising cultural and intellectual influence is redefining this established order. He explores how Asia’s..

Is AI progress stuck? | Jennifer Golbeck

Will progress in artificial intelligence continue to accelerate, or have we already hit a plateau? Computer scientist Jennifer Golbeck interrogates some of the most high-profile claims about the promises and pitfalls of AI, cutting through the hype to..

Ask dumb questions, embrace mistakes — and other lessons on innovation | Dave Raggio

To launch new initiatives within the confines of a large corporation, you'll need to work with the system, not against it, says "intrapreneur" Dave Raggio. He shares three lessons on innovation he learned the hard way — so you don't have to. (Made..

Why friendship can be just as meaningful as romantic love | Rhaina Cohen

We tend to consider romantic partners and family ties to be our most important relationships, but deep friendships can be just as meaningful. In a perspective-shifting talk, author Rhaina Cohen introduces us to the people unsettling norms by choosing..

Trump’s 2024 election win — and what’s next | Ian Bremmer

In this in-depth discussion on the implications of Donald Trump’s re-election as US president, geopolitical expert Ian Bremmer explores the key issues that shaped the result — as well as the coming shifts in US foreign policy, from the..

Your relationship expectations could be holding you back | Stephanie R. Yates-Anyabwile

What if the secret to a happy relationship isn’t following the rules, but rewriting them? In this refreshing talk, couples therapist Stephanie R. Yates-Anyabwile explores why letting go of traditional societal expectations of romantic relationships..

Yo! Have you ever seen a yo-yo dance like this? | Shu Takada

A six-time world yo-yo champion, Shu Takada is spinning his dreams into reality. Watch how he turns a humble pastime into a mesmerizing art form, blending yo-yo wizardry with dance and acrobatics.

Luxury, not landfill — the waste-free future of fashion | Joon Silverstein

Fashion is a huge part of the world's waste problem, but it doesn't have to be. Coachtopia founder Joon Silverstein shows how her company creates new designs from the waste products of another, a circular process that cuts the need for new raw..

How to defend democracy — and fight autocracy | Leopoldo Lopez

Seventy-two percent of the world's population lives under some sort of autocratic rule, says freedom fighter Leopoldo Lopez. In a rousing call to defend democracy worldwide, he shares the story of his imprisonment and exile for leading the movement..

Why you think you look bad in photos | Teri Hofford

Do you hate having your photo taken? Portrait photographer Teri Hofford is here to change your mind. She unpacks why you may think you look bad in photos — and how to boost your confidence for those moments captured on camera.

S.A.N. (Sentient Advocate of Nature) | GoodBye Monkey

In a universe not unlike ours, a tech-environmentalist group claims to have created an AI that is the direct “voice of the earth,” a computer connected via electrodes to the mycelium network under an ancient forest named S.A.N. (Sentient Advocate..

Your empty wine bottle could help rebuild coastlines | Franziska Trautmann

What if you could take something as tiny as a grain of sand — and as common as a glass bottle — and use it to tackle the climate crisis? Waste alchemist Franziska Trautmann shares how the spark of an idea turned into a large-scale operation..

The tipping point I got wrong | Malcolm Gladwell

In his 2000 bestseller "The Tipping Point," Malcolm Gladwell told the story of why crime fell in New York City in the 1990s. Now, 25 years later, he's back with a confession and a mea culpa: "I was wrong," he says. He shares how his analysis..

Poetry and music that reaches across the digital void | Elle Cordova

In this whimsical talk and performance, musician and comedian Elle Cordova ponders what happened before the Big Bang. She’s then joined by guitarist Toni Lindgren for the original song “Carl Sagan,” exploring social media, human connection and..

How AI could hack democracy | Lawrence Lessig

Does AI pose a threat to democracy? Law professor Lawrence Lessig dissects how this emerging technology could influence democratic institutions, warning that we’ve already passed a point (before superintelligence or AGI) that deserves a lot more..

Democracy is being tested. Citizen assemblies can help | Ketakandriana Rafitoson

How can everyday people help foster and protect democracy? Detailing her work fighting for people power as an activist in Madagascar, Ketakandriana Rafitoson discusses how citizen assemblies — meetings where ordinary citizens get educated about..

5 ways leaders can adapt to shifting geopolitics | Nikolaus S. Lang

What will the world look like in 2030? International business consultant Nikolaus S. Lang predicts the evolution of a multipolar world, with multiple emerging coalitions of countries acting in new ways to achieve their economic, technological and..

A menu of foods we might lose forever | Sam Kass

What does a warming planet mean for the foods you love? Hosting a dinner party that features a menu of foods that could disappear within our lifetimes, culinary entrepreneur Sam Kass invites us to chew on the reality of climate change by exploring the..

Networking doesn't have to feel gross | Daniel Hallak

Networking doesn’t always have to feel like a self-serving transaction, says executive coach Daniel Hallak. Highlighting the importance of focusing on giving rather than taking when it comes to making connections, he outlines a mindset shift to help..

Why don’t vampires cast reflections? | Eric Nuzum

Exploring the history and evolution of vampire lore, author Eric Nuzum traces the origins of these spooky stories, from misunderstandings of death to the sparkly pop culture icons we know today. Beyond the fangs and garlic, he digs into the deeper,..

Harris vs. Trump — and what’s at stake for the world | Ian Bremmer

The result of the 2024 US presidential election will be critical for Americans and the world. In a fascinating conversation, geopolitical expert Ian Bremmer digs into proposed policies from Kamala Harris and Donald Trump and explores how they think..

Why creativity thrives on challenges | Jon M. Chu

Filmmaker Jon M. Chu has enjoyed an incredible run of success, directing films like "Crazy Rich Asians," "In the Heights" and the highly anticipated adaptation of "Wicked" in theaters soon. But he wasn't always sure he'd make it big. In a wide-ranging..

What long COVID taught me about life (and data) | Giorgia Lupi

Data isn't just about numbers or trends — it's about capturing the stories that shape our lives, says information designer Giorgia Lupi. Following a long COVID diagnosis, she tracked her symptoms meticulously over four years, the data culminating in..

A mouse with two dads — and a new frontier for biology | Katsuhiko Hayashi

You're familiar with the story: a sperm and an egg meet to create an embryo, which has the potential to give rise to new life. But what if you could create a sperm or egg from any cell, even a single skin cell? Biologist Katsuhiko Hayashi discusses..

Why spending smarter beats bigger budgets in education | Karthik Muralidharan

Despite the billions of dollars poured into education development globally every year, the majority of students are still struggling with basic learning concepts, says economist Karthik Muralidharan. He outlines how smarter resource allocation and..

How to fight (and win) an information war | Peter Pomerantsev

How do you reach people trapped in a reality shaped by propaganda? Exploring the dark psychology of disinformation, author and academic Peter Pomerantsev draws on lessons from a forgotten World War II operation to suggest strategies for cutting..

The magical, mesmerizing migration of monarch butterflies | Jaime Rojo

When monarch butterflies migrate, they produce one of the most iconic wildlife spectacles in the world — and provide us with an important indicator of ecological health, says photographer Jaime Rojo. Telling a story about our relationship to the..

What you can learn crossing the ocean in a canoe | Lehua Kamalu

“Being on a voyage forces you to unplug,” says TED Fellow and third-generation captain Lehua Kamalu. Sharing ancient knowledge from traditional Hawaiian ocean voyaging, she reflects on the transformational power of seafaring journeys — and what..

Why smell matters more than you think | Paule Joseph

TED Fellow and chemosensory researcher Paule Joseph unveils the hidden power of a sense that's too often overlooked: smell. She delves into the science behind smell — from how it evokes memory and emotion to its potential for early disease detection..

Why do some bodies respond differently to disease? | Erika Moore

TED Fellow and equity bioengineer Erika Moore investigates how cells controlling inflammation behave differently depending on a patient's background. By focusing on the "who" behind the disease, Moore is uncovering why certain diseases..

A hospital in the cloud bringing health care anywhere in the world | Mohamed Aburawi

What if AI could help connect you with the right medical care, exactly when you need it? Health systems entrepreneur, surgeon and TED Fellow Mohamed Aburawi explores how his digital health platform, Speetar, uses AI to bridge the healthcare gap in..

What does poverty look like on a plate? | Huiyi Lin

TED Fellow and economic policy researcher Huiyi Lin is cocreator of "The Poverty Line," an art project examining poverty through the lens of food. By photographing the daily food choices of people living at the poverty line in 38 countries and..

The greatest show on Earth — for kids who need it most | Sahba Aminikia

TED Fellow and composer Sahba Aminikia brings the healing power of dance, storytelling, music and performance to some of the most dangerous places on Earth. By celebrating children and their communities with beauty and joy, he shows how to cultivate..

This refrigerator is saving lives | Norah Magero

TED Fellow and renewable energy expert Norah Magero envisions an Africa that pioneers its own technological future, shifting the narrative from dependence and consumption to self-reliance and innovation. She shares how she developed VacciBox — a..

From prison to purpose through wildland firefighting | Royal Ramey

When wildfires rage in California, incarcerated people are often on the front lines fighting the flames. TED Fellow Royal Ramey was one of them. He shares the story of how doing public service in prison inspired him to cofound the Forestry and Fire..

A lens on Georgia's survival in the shadow of a superpower | Daro Sulakauri

"Georgia is not heard or seen in the world, and many don't even know the location of the country," says TED Fellow and photographer Daro Sulakauri. Through her striking photographs of life in the shadows of Russian occupation, she uses her camera to..

How a worm could save humanity from bad AI | Ramin Hasani

What if AI could think and adapt like a real brain? TED Fellow and AI scientist Ramin Hasani shares how liquid neural networks — a new, more flexible AI technology inspired by physics and living brains — could transform how we solve complex..

A medical mythbuster's mission to improve health care | Joel Bervell

Joel Bervell was one of the only Black students in his medical school program. After noticing how misconceptions about race were embedded in health care, he turned to social media to raise awareness about the harmful impact of biases in medicine. He..

The power of personalization in the age of AI | Mark Abraham

With all that spam clogging your inbox, a more personalized experience with the brands you interact with would be a refreshing change of pace. Sharing insights from his research into what brands can do to improve the experience of the people they want..

A hypnotic exploration of movement | JA Collective

Jordan Johnson and Aidan Carberry, the choreographic duo known as JA Collective, give a performance of dance and visual arts, alternating between abrupt and fluid, tense and dreamlike.

Could we replace data centers with … plant DNA? | Cliff Kapono and Keolu Fox

Is it possible to meet the world's seemingly infinite demand for data storage while also caring for the natural environment? Biomedical researcher Keolu Fox and professional surfer and scientist Cliff Kapono believe that Indigenous knowledge combined..

The foods humanity forgot — and how we're bringing them back | Helianti Hilman

Nutritious crops aren't getting to the people who need nutrition most, even in one of the most fertile places on Earth: Indonesia. Exploring some of the forgotten foods from the country's more than 17,000 islands, food entrepreneur Helianti Hillman..

A food system that fights climate change — instead of causing it | Gonzalo Muñoz

Here's a wild stat: nearly one-third of the world's food production goes to waste each year, a major contributor to the climate crisis. Farmer and UN climate champion Gonzalo Muñoz sheds light on the international negotiations aimed at turning the..

How to shift a country’s diet | Sarah Lake

What we eat is less about what we choose and more about what’s offered to us, says food and climate expert Sarah Lake. Unpacking how governments and companies have driven up meat consumption in the US through extensive marketing, she explains how we..

How to make your cat happier — in 3 minutes | Nicky Trevorrow

There's a simple way to increase your cat's happiness, says animal behaviorist Nicky Trevorrow. She explains the importance of play for our feline friends — and for basically any species (looking at you, dog lovers!) — and shares specific,..

The UN is speaking up about AI — here's what they're saying | Ian Bremmer and Bilawal Sidhu

AI is shaping every aspect of our lives — but only a handful of tech giants have a say in what this technology can do. So what's going on with world governments? Bilawal Sidhu, host of "The TED AI Show," sits down with geopolitical expert Ian..

The probe on a mission to touch the Sun | Nour E. Rawafi

From its life-sustaining energy to its explosive geomagnetic storms, the Sun has many mysteries, says astrophysicist Nour E. Rawafi. He sheds light on NASA's latest endeavor to better understand our fiery neighbor and its impact on the future of..

The otters of Singapore — and other unexpected wildlife thriving in cities | Philip Johns

Animal behavior expert Philip Johns introduces us to the vibrant urban environments of Singapore, where city dwellers and skyscrapers coexist with a rich array of other species, including otters, hornbills and lizards — prompting the question: Can..