[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP4Jc5rGT1A&w=640&h=390] IBM’s language-savvy computer Watson has been dominating against humans on the game show Jeopardy! for the past two nights, and makes his final appearance this evening. And tomorrow, live on TED.com, IBM is hosting an insider’s conversation about Watson with Watson’s principal investigator Dr. David Ferrucci, IBM Fellow Kerrie Holley, and Columbia professor of […]
We each want to live a life of purpose, but where to start? In this luminous, wide-ranging talk, Jacqueline Novogratz introduces us to people she’s met in her work in “patient capital” — people who have immersed themselves in a cause, a community, a passion for justice. These human stories carry powerful moments of inspiration. […]
We’re thrilled to announce today the launch of TED Conversations, a new social platform on TED.com that connects people for conversation, collaboration and debate. TED Conversations was designed and built from the ground up to foster meaningful conversation among the global community who watch, share and discuss TEDTalks. Anyone who participates in online communities will […]
At TEDxRainier, Patricia Kuhl shares astonishing findings about how babies learn one language over another — by listening to the humans around them and “taking statistics” on the sounds they need to know. Clever lab experiments (and brain scans) show how 6-month-old babies use sophisticated reasoning to understand their world. (Recorded at TEDxRainier, November 2010, […]
The term “compassion” — typically reserved for the saintly or the sappy — has fallen out of touch with reality. At a special TEDPrize@UN, journalist Krista Tippett deconstructs the meaning of compassion through several moving stories, and proposes a new, more attainable definition for the word. (Recorded at TEDPrize@UN, November 2010, in New York, NY. […]
In this new Theme on TED.com, catch up on TEDTalks from speakers who are coming to TED2011 with something fresh to share. Interestingly, only some of these speakers have appeared at a TED; others come from TEDx, from our content partners, or from the Best of the Web series. We’re pulling great ideas from all […]
At TEDxRotterdam, world champion whistler Geert Chatrou performs the whimsical “Eleonora” by A. Honhoff, and his own “Fête de la Belle.” In a fascinating interlude, he talks about what brought him to the craft. (Recorded at TEDxRotterdam, June 2010, in Rotterdam, NL. Duration: 11:57) [ted id=1073] Watch Geert Chatrou’s talk on TED.com where you can […]
How can architects build a new world of sustainable beauty? By learning from nature. At TEDSalon in London, Michael Pawlyn describes three habits of nature that could transform architecture and society: radical resource efficiency, closed loops, and drawing energy from the sun. (Recorded at TEDSalon, November 2010, in London, UK. Duration: 13:47) [ted id=1072] Watch […]
As a grad student, Cynthia Breazeal wondered why we were using robots on Mars, but not in our living rooms. The key, she realized: training robots to interact with people. Now she dreams up and builds robots that teach, learn — and play. Watch for amazing demo footage of a new interactive game for kids. […]
Work-life balance, says Nigel Marsh, is too important to be left in the hands of your employer. At TEDxSydney, Marsh lays out an ideal day balanced between family time, personal time and productivity — and offers some stirring encouragement to make it happen. (Recorded at TEDxSydney, May 2010, in Sydney, Australia. Duration: 10:05) [ted id=1069] […]
Poet Suheir Hammad performs two spine-tingling spoken-word pieces: “What I Will” and “break (clustered)” — meditations on war and peace, on women and power. Wait for the astonishing line: “Do not fear what has blown up. If you must, fear the unexploded.” (Recorded at TEDWomen, December 2010, in Washington, DC. Duration: 5:52) [ted id=1068] Watch […]
Philip Zimbardo (watch his other TEDTalks) introduces the Heroic Imagination Project at TED University 2010. Zimbardo, whose work has studied the depths of human evildoing and the heights of heroism, is passionate about inspiring people to take heroic action. Learn how to practice everyday heroism. Learn more about the Heroic Imagination Project >>
In one month, the 2011 TED Prize winner, the amazing artist JR, will unveil his TED Prize wish live onstage in Long Beach. And you can sign up to watch along with him — and be among the first to join his new global project. Visit JR’s page on TEDPrize.org, and sign up for the […]
Christopher McDougall explores the mysteries of the human desire to run. How did running help early humans survive — and what urges from our ancient ancestors spur us on today? At TEDxPennQuarter, McDougall tells the story of the marathoner with a heart of gold, the unlikely ultra-runner, and the hidden tribe in Mexico that runs […]
Media and advertising companies still use the same old demographics to understand audiences, but they’re becoming increasingly harder to track online, says media researcher Johanna Blakley. As social media outgrows traditional media, and women users outnumber men, Blakley explains what changes are in store for the future of media. (Recorded at TEDWomen, December 2010, in […]
We’re thrilled to announce opening of registration for TED2012: Full Spectrum. Under this theme, we are assembling our most diverse group of speakers ever, with just this in common: they have something remarkable to share, and they are able to share it in a remarkable way. We’re inviting them to develop “full spectrum” presentations: blizzards […]