In 1984, TED emerged in California with a radical proposition: that technology, entertainment and design were converging in ways that could change how we see the world. That idea became a global movement, and four decades later, we’re returning to our roots to begin a new chapter. Beginning in 2027, the annual flagship TED conference will make its home in San Diego, California. This decision follows a rigorous, two-year process centered on infrastructure, community and the ability to scale TED’s mission in meaningful ways. San Diego positions us at the literal and cultural crossroads of innovation: a city where biotech […]
Today I’m sharing a momentous announcement. After a nine-month global search, we have found a beautiful answer to the question of who will carry TED forward into the future. Why this moment matters When we announced this process back in February, our guiding question was simple: Who can best take on TED’s unique blend of offerings and values — not just for the next few years, but for the coming decades? Our advisers, LionTree, heard from nearly 100 thoughtful and passionate groups — spanning individuals, foundations, media organizations, technology platforms, investor groups, and universities. (We even received generous offers to […]
As 2025 winds down, take a moment to revisit the ideas that defined the year — through TED Talks that sparked curiosity, challenged assumptions and left us dreaming. TED’s end-of-year playlists gather the moments that stirred the biggest conversations and offered fresh inspiration as we head into 2026. Here are the talks everyone obsessed over in 2025 — from deepfakes and AI to breakthroughs shaping our future: Dive into the conversations that lit up 2025, sparking global debate on AI, geopolitics, parenting and more: Check out this year’s TED-Ed hits — fascinating lessons on science, myths, health and the mysteries […]
Last year, we launched something new — a fusion of traditional TED Talks paired with short-form documentary. You didn’t just watch; you showed up in force. So we’re back. Season 2 of the TED Fellows Film Series has officially arrived! We’re thrilled to share a brand-new collection of films spotlighting our 2025 TED Fellows. Meet the pilot training young African women to fly — and rewriting who gets to navigate the skies. Follow the biotechnologist turning organic waste into biodegradable plastics that could reshape our supply chains. Learn from a scientist using satellites to protect crops and fight food insecurity. […]
TED Countdown is a global initiative to accelerate solutions to the climate crisis. Watch climate talks on our website and look for news about upcoming events, including local TEDxCountdown events near you. I’ve just returned from hosting two weeks of conversations, workshops and interviews at COP30 in Belém with TED Countdown. Much has been written about this COP’s shortfalls, frustrations and achievements — for excellent analysis, try Carbon Brief or Outrage and Optimism’s Inside COP podcast series. Instead, I want to share a few personal reflections about where we actually are — and what comes next. COP30 unfolded like a split-screen […]
Curious about what happened on day 2 of TEDNext? Think of this as your backstage pass to a day full of bold ideas, daring feats and fresh perspectives that will flip the way you think, feel and create. From using AI to enhance your life (without losing your humanity) to decoding love and flirting in a high-tech world — and from exploring the language of money to catching breakthroughs in science and creativity — here’s a taste of what made day 2 unforgettable. What exactly is TEDNext? A vibrant, three-day exploration of what’s next, propelling the “future you” to think […]
It’s time for TED to embark on an exciting new chapter I’ve had the great good fortune to have overseen TED for the last 25 years. It’s been exhilarating, and I feel great pride in what TED has become. As the organization moves into its fifth decade and I approach (gulp) 70, I believe the time has come for someone new to take the reins. So today, with the support of dear friends and colleagues, I am issuing an open invitation to anyone who believes they might have the resources and the ideas to oversee TED for its next 25 […]
By Brigid Jacoby, with Amanda Lynch November is National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, a time to pause, reflect and continue the conversation on a disease that touches millions of lives around the world. Alzheimer’s isn’t just a medical challenge — it’s an emotional one that reshapes families, identities and the way we connect with one another. Every TED Talk begins with a story. Every story begins with a memory. That is the idea at the heart of the TED Memory Project, created in partnership with Eli Lilly and Company. It’s a multi-platform, multi-month movement that explores how memory drives innovation and […]
For day 3 of TEDNext 2025, two magical sessions of talks put forward ideas on how to grow thoughtfully, think radically and redesign a better world. With stories from our AI-powered present (and future) as well as a healthy dose of ingenious human problem-solving, the talks of day 3 surprised, delighted and shed new light on what it means to be human right now. What exactly is TEDNext? A vibrant, three-day exploration of what’s next, propelling the “future you” to think expansively at every level, from personal to global. The second-ever TEDNext conference, held in Atlanta, continues an expansion of […]
We live in a time of great risk — and thrilling possibility. To make sense of it all, 21 speakers and performers gathered to draft a blueprint for our future. The event: TED@BCG: Infinite Possibilities, the sixteenth event TED and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) have co-hosted to uplift forward-thinking speakers from around the globe. Hosted by TED’s head of media and curation Helen Walters. When and where: October 23, 2025 at The Lana, Dorchester Collection, in Dubai, UAE Speakers: Riyad Joucka, Suresh Subudhi, Vinciane Beauchêne, Mary Martin, Edmond Rhys Jones, Sharon Price John, Stephen Remedios, Maegan Stephens, Nicole Lowenbraun, Akram […]
At the opening session of TEDNext 2025, we explored two big themes: wonder and wisdom. With speakers ranging from a digital artist and a biotech entrepreneur to an Oscar-winning costume designer and a world-famous ballerina, this session had it all. What exactly is TEDNext? A vibrant, three-day exploration of what’s next, propelling the “future you” to think expansively at every level, from personal to global. The second-ever TEDNext conference, held in Atlanta, continues an expansion of the annual slate of conferences from TED, with a conference designed to spark imagination, embrace possibility and foster dreams about what the next version […]
“We are watching the collapse of the international order in real time, and this is just the start,” says investigative journalist Carole Cadwalladr. In a searing talk — the first published from TED2025: Humanity Reimagined — she details a fast-moving technological coup and the rise of the “broligarchy”: an unprecedentedly powerful class of tech executives (like Elon Musk) who are complicit in dismantling democracy and enabling authoritarian control across the world. She shares a guide on how to digitally disobey in this age of runaway corporate power, data harvesting and mass surveillance — and reminds you that you have more […]
The AI revolution is here to stay, says Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI. In a probing, live conversation with head of TED Chris Anderson, Altman discusses the astonishing growth of AI and shows how models like ChatGPT could soon become extensions of ourselves. He also addresses questions of safety, power and moral authority, reflecting on the world he envisions — where AI will almost certainly outpace human intelligence. Watch the full interview.
Can’t make it to Atlanta for TEDNext? TED Live brings the minute-by-minute excitement from the TED Theater to your home, school or office. Be one of the first to experience talks from visionary speakers like music mogul Jermaine Dupri, ballerina & activist Misty Copeland, neurosurgeon & reporter Sanjay Gupta, financial educator Vivian Tu and so many more. Get your TED Live pass to stream the unedited talks in real time starting November 9, or later on with the on-demand archive.
TEDNext 2025 in Atlanta, now in its second year, celebrated those asking big questions about life, work and the world. Across three days of TED Talks, discovery sessions, meet-ups and more, attendees from 31 countries and every walk of life explored what’s next, how to lead and what really matters. Below, enjoy a photo roundup from TEDNext 2025. TEDNext 25 Photo Team: Leandro Badalotti, Ryan Lash, Erin Lubin, Callie Shields, Lynsey Weatherspoon and Elizabeth Zeeuw Watch TEDNext 2025 on TED Live, check out more photos from the event and learn more about attending a future TED conference. Watch TEDNext 2025 […]
Day 4 of TED2025 was a jaw-dropping tour of everything from the “girl internet” to what homes could look like in outer space. Learn more about how babies’ minds work, why voting by phone might be the reboot democracy needs and a future where roads can mend their own cracks. Day 4 included talks curated by writer, researcher and co-host of Radiolab, Latif Nasser. Here are some things you won’t want to miss from the day: Internet, politics and power. Digital strategist and activist Deja Foxx welcomes us to the “girl internet” — the new ecosystem of platforms, built by […]