TED Tech

Neurotechnologist Conor Russomanno discusses the potential of brain-computer interfaces, including the concept of a closed-loop system. He demonstrates a mind-controlled drone on the TED stage with neurohacker Christian Bayerlein.

Tom Graham, AI developer, discusses the power of deepfakes, the risks and benefits of AI-generated media, and the need for individual ownership and control over our photorealistic AI avatars.

Tony Long, ocean conservation expert and 2023 Audacious Project grantee, discusses the impact of illegal fishing and the role of technology in protecting ocean ecosystems. He introduces Global Fishing Watch's live map of industrial activity at sea and highlights the global commitment to conserve 30% of the ocean by 2030.

Electrical engineer Ali Hajimiri explains wireless energy transfer principles and shares his vision of launching solar panels into space to collect sunlight, convert it to electrical power, and beam it down to Earth. He discusses the potential of wireless power to transform energy transfer and eliminate physical wires, the role of wave interference in directing energy waves, and new lightweight fabric-like structures as power stations for wireless energy transfer from space.

Entrepreneur Karoli Hindriks advocates for a digital upgrade to passports, envisioning a future where universal digital passports replace paper ones. She explores the challenges of cross-border movement, flaws in the passport system, and highlights the power of Estonia's digitalization efforts. She proposes a secure universal digital identity as a potential solution for eliminating paperwork and improving the immigration process.

In this perspective-shifting talk, energy researcher Rose M. Mutiso makes the case for prioritizing Africa's needs with what's left of the world's carbon budget, to foster growth and equitably achieve a smaller global carbon footprint. After the talk, our host Sherrell expands upon the ways some nations have been historically neglected when it comes to climate adaptive technologies and shares commentary from climate tech founder Donnel Baird on advocating for underserved communities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this exclusive preview of groundbreaking, unreleased technology, former Apple designer and Humane cofounder Imran Chaudhri envisions a future where AI enables our devices to "disappear" -- seriously, like one day making a phone call on the palm of your hand. He gives a sneak peek of his company's new product -- shown for the first time ever on the TED stage -- and explains how it could change the way we interact with tech and the world around us. Witness a stunning vision of the next leap in device design. After the talk, Sherrell points to a few potential unintended consequences of sleeker tech. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The emergence of data-driven mass surveillance "is threatening to turn privacy into a relic of the 20th century," says the anonymous YouTube creator known as Ordinary Things. Meanwhile, state-funded troll farms are spreading disinformation and curating chaos on platforms meant to connect us and revolutionize the way we live. Ordinary Things gives an enlightening account of the internet's strengths and weaknesses, warning that the fight for a free internet is a fight for our collective future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When programmer Tiffani Ashley Bell learned that thousands of people in Detroit were facing water shutoffs because they couldn't afford to pay their bills, she decided to take action -- in the simplest, most obvious way possible. It's an inspiring story of how one person with tenacity and an idea can create monumental change -- and a demonstration that each of us can find our own way to help the world, even if it means starting without all the answers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sal Khan, the founder and CEO of Khan Academy, thinks artificial intelligence could spark the greatest positive transformation education has ever seen. He shares the opportunities he sees for students and educators to collaborate with AI tools -- including the potential of a personal AI tutor for every student and an AI teaching assistant for every teacher -- and demos some exciting new features for their educational chatbot, Khanmigo. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.