TED Talks Daily

Mercedes Bidart, an impact entrepreneur focused on financial inclusion, discusses how AI is revolutionizing access to credit for informal entrepreneurs in Latin America. She elaborates on how community trust serves as currency, and the challenges faced by those without formal credit history. By utilizing invisible data from smartphones, she reveals how trust can be measured for lenders. Mercedes showcases innovative AI models that analyze telecom and social media signals to deliver personalized loan terms, ultimately empowering underserved entrepreneurs.

In this captivating performance, Sarah Kay, a renowned spoken-word artist, explores the whimsical concept of a 'minister of loneliness.' She imagines a world connected by tin-can telephone strings, fostering curiosity and camaraderie. Kay introduces a nationwide buddy system for accountability and shares playful social rituals that encourage communal joy. Touching on intergenerational connections, she envisions therapy as a shared service and the minister's charmingly awkward adventures in love. Ultimately, she celebrates the small wonders of human connection.

Timm Chiusano, an emotional intelligence coach known for his focus on 'appreciation' as a daily practice, shares a transformative moment from a tough day. He reveals how a simple observation sparked his journey to becoming 'addicted to appreciation,' enhancing his happiness and presence. Timm contrasts appreciation with gratitude, highlights the impact of social media on spreading his message, and offers practical tips to cultivate appreciation in everyday life, leading to deeper connections and increased empathy.

Akram Awad, an AI futurist advising governments on technology strategies, dives into a world where jobs are replaced by AI. He highlights the potential crisis of identity as we shift from job titles to societal contributions. Awad introduces his 'Gap Circles Framework,' detailing three new roles emerging in the AI era: guardians, pioneers, and adapters. He suggests that our worth should be measured by our contributions to society rather than wealth, advocating for an educational focus on emotional intelligence and a cultural reset in how we define success.

Sara Beery, an AI researcher and ecologist at MIT, dives into the urgent need for ecological knowledge hidden in vast datasets. She reveals that 80% of Earth's species remain unknown, exacerbated by climate change and habitat loss. Beery discusses how AI can analyze millions of images quickly, unlocking valuable information for conservation. Her innovative tool, Inquire, allows researchers to query ecological data efficiently, with remarkable speed and accuracy. Beery emphasizes the public's role in contributing data to platforms like iNaturalist, helping to fill crucial biodiversity gaps.

Join food researcher Nicola Twilley as she explores the hidden impact of refrigeration on our food systems and the environment. She dives into the massive cold chain, comparing it to an artificial Arctic while highlighting its climate costs. Twilley discusses the avocado trade's environmental repercussions and innovative cooling technologies that could revolutionize food preservation. She emphasizes rethinking our kitchen fridges and suggests that countries can leapfrog to cleaner methods, preserving freshness without the traditional cold.

Hanif Abdurraqib, a celebrated writer and cultural critic from Columbus, Ohio, is joined by poet Sarah Kay. Together, they explore the deep connections that foster love for one's hometown. Hanif discusses how local interactions, like neighborhood gatherings during power outages, combat isolation. He highlights the significance of familiar places—like record shops and donut spots—in building community. Their heartfelt conversation emphasizes small acts of kindness and the urgency of appreciating beauty in everyday life.

Steve Howard, a sustainability leader and former Chief Sustainability Officer at IKEA, discusses the friction between capitalism and climate action. He outlines four hard truths that hinder businesses from achieving climate goals. Howard argues that current markets favor short-term profits over sustainable practices, and he emphasizes the need for innovative policies, internal carbon pricing, and investment in green technologies. He illustrates his points with real-world examples like IKEA’s LED initiative and emerging markets' innovative solutions.

In this engaging discussion, Tom Chi, an impact investor and former Google/X innovator, challenges the notion that economic growth harms ecological health. He highlights groundbreaking approaches harnessing AI and robotics to restore ecosystems. Tom reveals how drones can plant 100,000 mangroves a day and how advanced recycling can lower mining needs. He emphasizes that with innovative practices like regenerative agriculture and ecological mining, technology can work symbiotically with nature, promoting both industry and environmental restoration.

In this engaging discussion, Harini Bhat, a scientist and storyteller known for her YouTube channel 'Today I Learned Science', explores the joy of embracing uncertainty. She critiques the culture of instant answers and highlights how curiosity fuels her channel's success. Harini shares fascinating stories, like a glassified human brain from Vesuvius and groundbreaking research on embryo development. Her call to action encourages listeners to cultivate their curiosity and approach learning with childlike wonder.