02 June 2009

A university for the coming singularity: Ray Kurzweil on TED.com

Ray Kurzweil's latest graphs show that technology's breakneck advances will only accelerate -- recession or not. He unveils his new project, Singularity University, to study oncoming tech and guide it to benefit humanity. (Recorded at TED University 2009, February 2009, in Long Beach, California. Duration: 8:42)

Watch Ray Kurzweil's talk from TED University 2009 on TED.com, where you can download this TEDTalk, rate it, comment on it and find other talks and performances from our archive of 400+ TEDTalks.

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Posted by Matthew Trost | Permalink

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16 February 2008

14 ways to fix the future

The National Academies' "Grand Challenges for Engineering" list, released yesterday, runs down the 14 most pressing issues we must face in the 21st century. Creating access to clean water ... restoring our cities ... engineering new medicines and new ways of providing care ... the list is vast and inspiring. Look on the Next Steps area to find out where we can go from here.

The committee that selected these 14 Grand Challenges includes TEDTalks speakers Jaime Lerner, Dean Kamen, Craig Venter, Larry Page and Ray Kurzweil.

Listen to Ray Kurzweil at the press conference, discussing the future of solar power >>

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27 October 2005

On Communicating

A special report from Forbes.com covers the broad topic of Communicating in some interesting ways: from the origins of language in chimps to alien contact to the latest computer interfaces (including the SUI, or Straw-like User Interface, which lets you experience the sensations of drinking). Many TED voices here (Steven Pinker, Jane Goodall, Ray Kurzweil, James Surowiecki), and a few gems -- if you're willing to dig for them -- including an entertaining bit on 10 Things you Communicate Unintentionally.

Posted by June Cohen | Permalink

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17 October 2005

Bird Flu Genome: Recipe for disaster?

Some of the world's greatest minds are consumed these days with the threat of avian flu. In an effort to better understand the evolution of the virus, scientists recently decoded -- and published -- the genome of the 1918 flu virus (which also jumped from birds to humans). A grave mistake, according to two eminent TEDsters. In today's New York Times, inventor Ray Kurzweil (TED2005) and Sun Microsystems founder Bill Joy (who will speak at TED2006), argue that publishing this genome is a matter of national -- or, rather, global -- security. It would be easier, they argue, to create and release this virus than it would be to build and detonate an atomic bomb. Chilling ... and well-argued.

Posted by June Cohen | Permalink

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