The 7 pillars of unlocking potential | Anirudh Krishna

Why do some countries have a seemingly endless supply of talent in certain fields? From Jamaica's sprinters to South Korea's golfers, public policy professor Anirudh Krishna explains why "talent ladders" — structured pathways to identify and nurture..

A fresh approach to international development | Faisal Saeed Al Mutar

Money for international development rarely makes it to the people it intends to help, says Faisal Saeed Al Mutar, the founder of Ideas Beyond Borders. Highlighting the inefficiencies of the current system, he proposes a new model for aid that..

How to divorce as allies, not enemies | Allison O'Brien

Ending a marriage doesn’t have to mean ending a family, says communication expert Allison O'Brien, who navigated her own divorce without lawyers or mediators. She introduces a framework for ensuring a divorce remains peaceful, supports children and..

Will AI make us the last generation to read and write? | Victor Riparbelli

Technology is changing our world — and how we communicate — at an astonishing rate. So much so that entrepreneur Victor Riparbelli predicts that artificial intelligence will drive audio and video to replace text as our primary form of..

A bold new chapter for TED | Chris Anderson

Chris Anderson, head of TED, has some big news to share: after 25 years of leading the organization, he's issuing an open invitation to pass on its stewardship to someone new. It could be anyone. Maybe you? In conversation with Jay Herratti (CEO of..

The power shift US politics needs | Anathea Chino

As the cofounder of Advance Native Political Leadership, Anathea Chino creates space for Native American leaders to thrive in an often unwelcoming political system. Alongside comedian and filmmaker Negin Farsad, she discusses the power of diverse..

How to make anxiety your friend | David H. Rosmarin

When anxiety rears its head, we often just want it to go away. Clinical psychologist David H. Rosmarin asks us to consider instead the positive role anxiety can play in our lives, sharing four practical steps to transform it from your enemy into your..

Why joy is a serious way to take action | Pattie Gonia

While doom and gloom may wake people up, joy keeps them in the fight, says drag queen and environmentalist Pattie Gonia. With humor, creativity and a dress made of thrifted shower curtains and upcycled pink flamingo pool floaties, Pattie shows why..

How little experiments can lead to big success | Emmanuel Acho and David Epstein

Are your goals and resolutions actually holding you back from becoming your best self? Emmanuel Acho — a former NFL player, now an author and TV sports analyst — sits down with investigative reporter David Epstein to explore why goal-setting often..

TED Explores: Food for the Future | TED Countdown

Food is culture, food is life — it’s part of who we are and the magic that binds us together. But here’s the twist: the way we eat is pushing the climate to the brink, with a third of global greenhouse gas emissions coming from the way we grow,..

Embrace your main character energy with Natasha Rothwell | On the Spot | Natasha Rothwell

Actor and writer Natasha Rothwell takes the stage for “On the Spot,” TED’s rapid-fire Q&A format. Answering a stream of unexpected questions, she dishes on everything from creativity and representation in TV to love, the first “pinch me”..

Can AI match the human brain? | Surya Ganguli

AI is evolving into a mysterious new form of intelligence — powerful yet flawed, capable of remarkable feats but still far from human-like reasoning and efficiency. To truly understand it and unlock its potential, we need a new science of..

The high-wire act to unlock clean energy | Jason Huang

Why are we using tech from 100 years ago to deliver the world's electricity? Materials scientist Jason Huang shows how we could massively upgrade the global power grid by replacing the wires in existing transmission lines with new, advanced..

The secret to telling a great story — in less than 60 seconds | Jenny Hoyos

For social media creator and viral video hitmaker Jenny Hoyos, the key to telling a great story is to keep it brief. She breaks down her framework for telling stories in 60 seconds or less that can gain millions of views online — or simply elevate..

Why daylight is the secret to great sleep | Christine Blume

Does the type and amount of light you’re exposed to during the day change how well you sleep at night? Diving into the effects of daylight on your internal biological clock, sleep scientist Christine Blume shares practical tips for making natural..

The surprising way small actions shift beliefs | Kris De Meyer

Feeling stuck on the big issues? Neuroscientist Kris De Meyer has a surprising fix. Instead of waiting for information to get you motivated, he shows how taking small actions in your personal life can rewire your brain to get unstuck. Learn more about..

6 ways to make better online connections | Margaux Miller

Networking expert Margaux Miller offers a fresh playbook for making meaningful connections online, presenting six tips for building online relationships that emphasize quality over quantity and the importance of genuine, personalized interactions...

Are we alone in the universe? We're close to finding out | Lisa Kaltenegger

Astrophysicist Lisa Kaltenegger explores the thrilling possibility of discovering life beyond Earth, highlighting how cutting-edge technology like the James Webb Space Telescope lets us analyze distant planets for signs of life in unprecedented..

How AI will answer questions we haven't thought to ask | Aravind Srinivas

Human potential will only accelerate with AI answering questions better and faster than ever before, says Aravind Srinivas, cofounder and CEO of conversational search engine Perplexity. He examines the trends driving new AI-powered tools that nourish..

Climate progress isn't a sprint — it's a marathon | Greg De Temmerman

Fighting climate change is much like long-distance running: a complex journey filled with obstacles, fast-changing conditions and the need for constant adaptation. Drawing on his own experience as an ultramarathon runner, energy expert Greg de..

Confessions of a recovering people pleaser | Baron Ryan

Internet filmmaker Baron Ryan talks to himself, but he doesn't always like what he has to say. In a funny, existential play (where Ryan plays both himself and his mind), he contemplates the paradox of being a people pleaser, the efficacy of melatonin..

The unique love between humans and dogs | Elias Weiss Friedman

What makes the bond between people and dogs so special? Elias Weiss Friedman, creator of The Dogist, has captured millions of hearts by documenting this unique connection through his journalistic style of dog portraits, which reveal each precious..

What if AI could spot your lies? | Riccardo Loconte

Humans are terrible at detecting lies, says psychologist Riccardo Loconte ... but what if we had an AI-powered tool to help? He introduces his team’s work successfully training an AI to recognize falsehoods in certain contexts, laying the groundwork..

How AI is decoding ancient scrolls | Julian Schilliger and Youssef Nader

AI researcher Youssef Nader and digital archaeologist Julian Schilliger share how they used AI to virtually "unroll" and decode the Herculaneum scrolls, burnt and buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius nearly 2,000 years ago. Learn how AI could help..

The potential US TikTok ban — and what's at stake | Clay Shirky

The clock is ticking on social media giant TikTok, which faces a nationwide ban in the United States unless its parent company, ByteDance, sells it by January 19. Social media theorist Clay Shirky unpacks why the US is trying to ban TikTok, what it..

The biggest global risks for 2025 | Ian Bremmer

2025 ushers in one of the most dangerous periods in world history — on par with the 1930s and early Cold War, says Ian Bremmer, president and founder of Eurasia Group and GZERO Media. Highlighting the top geopolitical risks for the year ahead,..

Is perfectionism just procrastination in disguise? | Jon Youshaei

What separates struggling artists from successful ones? Looking to creative geniuses like Mozart, Edison and Monet, video creator Jon Youshaei explains why aiming to be prolific — despite flops and failures along the way — is the key to unlocking..

How AI can bridge the Deaf and hearing worlds | Adam Munder

Software engineer Adam Munder is on a mission to break down communication barriers between the Deaf and hearing worlds. In a live demo, he introduces OmniBridge — an AI platform that translates American Sign Language into English text in real time..

The food that fertilizes itself | Giles E.D. Oldroyd

Could the key to a sustainable food system already be growing in the world’s farms? Plant scientist Giles E.D. Oldroyd explores how a special quirk of soybean plants allows them to naturally partner with networks of fungi and bacteria to access..

Can AI companions help heal loneliness? | Eugenia Kuyda

AI companions could either be the cure to our loneliness epidemic … or humanity's final downfall, says Eugenia Kuyda, creator of Replika — an app that allows you to create AI friends. She explores the potential of this technology to either..

Solar energy is even cheaper than you think | Jenny Chase

How prevalent is solar power, really? According to researcher Jenny Chase, it's already displacing fossil fuels in key energy markets around the world. She explains the rise of affordable solar power and dives into how her team tracked its rapid..

Break the bad news bubble (Part 2) | Angus Hervey

It's time for our periodic update of good news from Angus Hervey, founder of Fix the News, an independent publication that reports stories of global progress. In a quick talk, he shares three major updates of recent human progress on eradicating..

How to protect your emotional health during the holidays | Guy Winch

The end of the year is often a time to reflect and spend time with family — activities that may seem joyful or anxiety-inducing, depending on your circumstances. Psychologist Guy Winch offers actionable advice on how to manage your emotions with..

How to feed 10 billion people — without destroying nature | Andy Jarvis

Feeding 10 billion people without wrecking the planet means rethinking protein, from plant-based and fermented foods to lab-grown meat that tastes like the real thing. Presenting an exciting menu of sustainable options, food futurist Andy Jarvis..

Collagen's dirty secret — and its clean future | Fei Luo

From cosmetics to nutrition, collagen is seemingly everywhere — but we don't often discuss its ethically questionable sources, says chemical engineer Fei Luo. She delves into the groundbreaking technology that uses genetically modified yeast to brew..

How to turn setbacks into success | Amy Shoenthal

Success rarely happens in a straight line, with setbacks all but guaranteed along the way. What's the best way to recover? Leadership coach Amy Shoenthal lays out the four phases of the "setback cycle" and explains how to transform difficult moments..

Love, trust and marketing in the age of AI | Amaryllis Liampoti

As AI chatbots become more personal and proactive, the line between tool and companion is beginning to blur, with some users even professing love for their digital aides, says business consultant Amaryllis Liampoti. She presents three foundational..

3 reasons to take risks like a teenager | Adriana Galván

Is embracing your inner teenager the key to thriving in adulthood? Neuroscientist Adriana Galván shares three powerful lessons from decades of research into adolescent brain development, exploring what teens can teach us about embracing uncertainty,..

The absurd inequality of climate work — and how to fix it | Joshua Amponsem

When it comes to tackling the climate crisis, the majority of the workforce in Africa believes their role is in the labor-intensive, low-income work — not in the strategic, analytical or leadership-based spaces, says climate visionary and..

Can you love your body — and still want to change it? | Gabriella Lascano

Gabriella Lascano rose to prominence as a plus-size influencer, advocating for respect at any size with her natural blend of confidence and self-love. She shares how a friend's death led to a candid reassessment of her own health and sparked a viral..

What's our relationship to AI? It's complicated | AC Coppens, Kasley Killam and Apolinário Passos

In a lively conversation from TED's brand-new Next Stage, social scientist Kasley Killam, technologist Apolinário Passos and futurist AC Coppens explore the intricate dynamics of human-AI relationships — and show how AI is already changing the ways..

How to make big decisions in challenging circumstances | Jonathan Reimer

When making a big decision, should you trust your gut or follow the data? Emergency manager Jonathan Reimer draws on his experience responding to some of Canada's largest wildfires to share advice on high-stakes decision-making that you can take to..

Want to give a great presentation? Use ugly sketches | Martin J. Eppler

Looking to level up your presentations? It might only take a poorly-drawn sketch, says professor Martin J. Eppler. He offers three tips to use visualizations at work, laying out how these simple tricks can boost creativity and communication, improve..

How digital culture is reshaping our faces and bodies | Elise Hu

As "beauty filters" proliferate on social media platforms like TikTok, journalist Elise Hu says we've entered the era of the technological gaze, where the digital world shapes real-world beauty standards. She explains how to navigate this new reality..

Does your heartbeat shape your sense of time? | Irena Arslanova

Do you ever feel like time slows down when you’re bored but flies when you’re having fun? Cognitive neuroscientist Irena Arslanova explores the ways your brain and heart shape your perception of time, revealing how your heartbeat doesn’t just..

How to pose for a photo with confidence | David Suh

What if striking a pose could not only make you look good but also help you embody who you’re meant to become? Demonstrating the art of mindful posing, portrait photographer and TikTok’s “King of Poses” David Suh shares body language secrets..

The mind-reading potential of AI | Chin-Teng Lin

Scientists are getting closer to giving humans the power to communicate with their thoughts alone. In a live demo, researcher Chin-Teng Lin shows how brain-computer interfaces can translate a person's neural signals into text on a computer,..

Why your body fights weight loss | Katherine Saunders

Why does losing weight often feel like an uphill battle? Physician Katherine Saunders unpacks how our bodies are wired to store fat, revealing that obesity isn’t simply a lack of willpower — it’s a complex, chronic disease rooted in evolutionary..

The real-world danger of online myths | Vidhya Ramalingam

How do we protect ourselves from being misled online? Counter-terrorism expert Vidhya Ramalingam reveals how disinformation is weaponized to justify violence — increasingly against climate scientists — and introduces a powerful tool called..

How a deepfake almost ruined my political career | Cara Hunter

A nightmare scenario happened to politician Cara Hunter: just weeks before her election, she became the victim of a deepfake scam that threatened to upend her life and career. In a fearless talk, she explores AI's potential to undermine truth and..