Artificial intelligence is shaping our lives faster than almost any other technology in history. It generates breathtaking breakthroughs — and equally daunting questions. At TEDAI San Francisco 2025, taking place October 21–22, we’re bringing those questions front and center. Are We Bold Enough? This one question, with infinite futures, will guide our theme for 2025. Together, we’ll explore bold ideas and ask brave questions around how AI systems are reshaping the world — transforming industries, institutions, communities and culture. For two days in October, TEDAI San Francisco will convene leading voices in AI, science, philosophy and design to spark conversations […]
Artificial intelligence has become one of the great topics of our age. We read about it daily, we marvel at its abilities, and we worry about its dangers. Beneath the excitement and anxiety, there are some deeper conversations we are still failing to have: questions about how we — as thinkers, leaders and builders — can shape the world we will all have to live in with AI. And the window to answer these questions is closing fast. That’s why, for three remarkable days, we will gather in the heart of Europe, in Vienna, Austria, to dedicate our time and […]
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 […]
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.
We are thrilled to announce this year’s 2025 cohort of TED Fellows, whose work spans four continents and represents 11 countries. This year’s TED Fellows are tackling some of the world’s most urgent issues with bold and groundbreaking solutions. Among them are an entrepreneur transforming organic waste into bioplastics, a pilot teaching a generation of young African women to fly, a scientist using satellites to fight food insecurity and an illustrator capturing powerful stories that go beyond the headlines. For 16 years, the TED Fellows program has been committed to finding and supporting the next generation of innovators. The fellowship […]
The world’s first TEDSports conference is set to transform Indianapolis into a global laboratory for sports innovation this September 9-11, 2025. As we prepare to welcome athletes, tech entrepreneurs and thought leaders from around the world, we’re stepping into the TED world of what a conference can be — not just a series of talks, but a curiosity-fueled experience, pushing boundaries and forging lasting connections. Secure your spot now and be a part of history at the first-ever TEDSports. Here are some highlights of what’s to come: Explore unseen opportunities in sports TEDSports will redefine our understanding of the sporting […]
As 2024 wraps up, join us in celebrating the most popular, mind-blowing and must-watch TED Talks published this year. From cutting-edge AI to climate breakthroughs and transformative insights on human potential, our curated end-of-year-lists capture a compelling panorama of ideas that challenge, inspire and reimagine our collective future. From AI and technological innovation to climate change, social dynamics and global transformations, the most popular TED Talks of 2024 offer insights into the issues shaping the future: In this compelling collection of tech-focused talks, visionary speakers explore the frontiers of innovation — from AI-powered coding and entertainment to vertical farming, limitless […]
Across the final two sessions of TED Countdown Summit 2025, experts, changemakers and dreamers explored actionable solutions to fix today’s problems, alleviate tomorrow’s and build a clean energy future. Here are some highlights from day 3: Africa’s electric vehicle revolution is leapfrogging traditional fossil fuel transit. Electrical engineer Doreen Orishaba explores how electric bus company BasiGo is using innovative financing models and locally assembled buses to conquer Kigali’s hills, limiting environmental impact and saving operators money. With 90 percent renewable energy powering these silent electric fleets, emerging companies like BasiGo show how Africa isn’t playing catch-up in sustainable transportation — it’s […]
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 […]
Last month, more than 600 attendees from 69 countries gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, for Countdown’s first Summit in the Global South, a region at the forefront of climate innovation. The Summit brought together a visionary group of global innovators, business executives, scientists, policymakers, next-generation leaders, artists, activists — all united in their commitment to building a brighter future. Below, enjoy a selection of photos from the Summit. And check out TED Talks from the event, plus follow Countdown on Instagram and LinkedIn for updates. TED Countdown Summit 2025 Photo Team: Callie Giovanna, Humphrey Gateri and Elizabeth Zeeuw
Who says climate talks can’t come with a plot twist? Day 2 of TED Countdown Summit 2025 flipped the script on what we think of as the drivers of climate progress. It’s not just solar panels and policy — it’s in the flow of money, trust and imagination. Informal economies are bursting with potential. Even refrigeration and rewilding got their spotlight as unsung heroes of resilience. The common thread? Climate action works best when it works for people. Here’s what stood out from day 2: Capitalism, but make it work for everyone. Entrepreneur Anuj Tanna sees Africa’s informal economies not […]
“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 first Chinese-language TED science video book series, Learning Science with TED, was officially launched last month at the 31st Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF), held at the China National Convention Center in Beijing, China. The series is a joint initiative by Science Press, New Channel International Education Group and TED. It features more than 100 high-impact topics curated from TED’s education initiative, TED-Ed. The complete collection will comprise 12 volumes sourced from TED-Ed’s widely viewed science animation library, covering 10 cutting-edge fields including artificial intelligence, mathematics, physics and astronomy. The series introduces a three-dimensional learning model that integrates reading, […]
The Audacious Project supports big ideas to foster change around the world’s most urgent challenges. Today, this innovative funding initiative, housed at TED, is announcing its new cohort of projects for 2024, which are as bold as ever — from an idea to repurpose generic drugs en masse to reach the 300 million people globally who lack viable treatments to a new initiative that will evaluate AI systems for dangerous capabilities before release. The Audacious Project encourages the world’s greatest changemakers to dream bigger than they can imagine — then helps shape their ideas into viable multi-year plans and launch […]