TED Tech

From the construction of virtual realities to the internet of things to the watches on our wrists—technology's influence is everywhere. Its role in our lives is evolving fast, and we're faced with riveting questions and tough challenges that sit at the intersection of technology and humanity. Listen in every Friday, with host, journalist Sherrell Dorsey, as TED speakers explore the way tech shapes how we think about society, science, design, business, and more.

Follow Sherrell on Instagram @sherrell_dorsey and on LinkedIn @sherrelldorsey

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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279 episodes
Updated Friday

Episodes279

Newest first

April 10 · 32 min
AI is changing how we talk and think. How can we stop it? with Adam Aleksic and Advait Sarkar
Algorithms and AI don’t show us reality, but that doesn’t stop people from treating ChatGPT and online bots as our personalized therapists, travel planners, and editors. In this episode, Sherrell is sharing two talks on how AI is changing the way we’re influenced. From shaping our language to becoming “middle managers of our own thoughts,” these speakers ask what happens when we offload critical thinking to a machine. Talks featured Why are people starting to sound like ChatGPT? | Adam Aleksic How to stop AI from killing your critical thinking | Advait Sarkar Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 3 · 19 min
How satellite imagery is helping stop deforestation with Tasso Azevedo and Anna Rothschild
From local parks to the Amazon rainforest, trees provide shade and shelters for humans, animals, insects, and many other living creatures. They’re the lungs of our planets, but they’re being threatened by deforestation. In this episode, Sherrell is sharing two talks on what happens if the entire Amazon rainforest disappears… and how one land reformer is using satellite imagery to hold tree cutters accountable. Talk featured Is the Amazon Rainforest disappearing? | Anna Rothschild How to see (and stop) deforestation from space | Tasso Azevedo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
March 27 · 40 min
How to stop doomscrolling — and what to do instead? (w/ Katherine Cross) | from How to Be a Better Human
Is it effective to engage with politics on social media — and what does it take to make actual change? Katherine Cross is a researcher on online harassment and the author of Log Off: Why Posting and Politics (Almost) Never Mix. She shares why she believes social media is “anti-political” and how virtual engagement will not achieve the necessary political work for us. Katherine and Chris also discuss the limitations of short-form content in conveying decades of geopolitical strife, why our lives would be better off without social media, and the guardrails platforms could utilize to help users engage with posts critically and to slow down viral misinformation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
March 20 · 20 min
Is the AI bubble about to burst? | Henrik Zeberg
We are living through what may be the largest economic bubble in history, spanning AI, cryptocurrency and tech company stocks, says financial analyst Henrik Zeberg. He explores why the current AI-crypto bubble mirrors the great economic frenzies of the past, revealing the psychological forces behind them — and why it looks like we're repeating the same patterns again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
March 13 · 15 min
Meet NEO, your robot butler in training | Bernt Børnich
What if doing your chores were as easy as flipping a switch? In this talk and live demo, roboticist and founder of 1X Bernt Børnich introduces NEO, a humanoid robot designed to help you out around the house. Watch as NEO shows off its ability to vacuum, water plants and keep you company, while Børnich tells the story of its development — and shares a vision for robot helpers that could free up your time to focus on what truly matters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
March 6 · 22 min
Everything you need to know about AI agents | Swami Sivasubramanian
What if you had an AI-powered assistant — that took initiative on its own? Technology leader Swami Sivasubramanian believes AI agents are the future of work, capable of sparking new levels of productivity and creativity. Demystifying the workings of autonomous software systems, he explains what they are (and aren’t) and advocates for a world in which AI handles the boring stuff, so you can focus on what matters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
February 27 · 17 min
AI's next frontier isn't where you might expect | Hardy Pemhiwa
With a billion mobile phone users and a median population age of 19, Africa isn't catching up to the AI revolution — it's writing an entirely different playbook, says business leader Hardy Pemhiwa. He shows how a generation of entrepreneurs is using AI to teach classes, triage patients and boost farm yields through the power of local compute, local data and local languages. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
February 20 · 10 min
How we built Watch Duty, the lifesaving wildfire alert app | John Mills
After finding himself alone in an unreported wildfire in the woodlands of California, John Mills decided to take matters into his own hands. Hear the incredible story of how he rallied fire survivors and retired first responders to create Watch Duty, the nonprofit emergency alert system that’s beating official government warnings and buying people precious minutes to escape danger. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
February 13 · 12 min
How satellites are supporting farmers across Africa | Catherine Nakalembe
More than 8,000 satellites orbit Earth, taking photos every day. Food security specialist and TED Fellow Catherine Nakalembe shows how she uses this imagery to help smallholder farmers across Africa prepare for floods, droughts and crop failures. Learn why real innovation isn’t always about shinier technology — it’s about making the tech truly fit the problem it’s solving. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
February 6 · 16 min
The best thing that could happen to the energy industry | Matt Tilleard
History has been written by whoever controls the dominant fuel of the era — until now, says renewables entrepreneur Matt Tilleard. He explains why, as the clean energy transition ramps up, we’re moving from a world where energy comes from burning fuels to one where it will come from using technology. Learn why this could change everything about global power dynamics — and why the future belongs not to those who control resources, but to those who build and share technology. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
January 30 · 15 min
How to pull the emergency brake on global warming | Mohamed A. Sultan
Landfills across African cities are catching fire and releasing methane, an invisible greenhouse gas with more short-term warming potential than CO2. Sustainable strategist Mohamed A. Sultan reveals how local communities are turning this crisis into opportunity, diverting hundreds of tons of waste from landfills and helping thousands of farmers adopt more sustainable techniques. Learn why cutting methane emissions is a win-win opportunity to drive down global temperatures while also creating more livable cities. (This ambitious idea is part of The Audacious Project, TED’s initiative to inspire and fund global change.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
January 23 · 12 min
Inside India's astonishing solar revolution | Kanika Chawla
In 2014, the world’s second largest coal consumer made a bold promise: to increase its solar capacity from three gigawatts to 100 gigawatts in just eight years. Many people called it overly ambitious, but energy expert Kanika Chawla saw the opportunity of a lifetime. She tells the story of how India became a solar powerhouse, turning an expensive dream into an economic reality — and creating a model for other countries to follow suit. After, Sherrell reflects on what drives the green economy and the growth strategy other companies can follow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
January 16 · 6 min
What Earth in 2125 could look like | Iseult Gillespie
Faced with the realities of current crises, it’s easy to assume our world is headed in a bleak direction. But there’s good reason to be hopeful— with developments in science and technology, a positive future is more viable than ever before. So, what if the future was awesome? Iseult Gillespie explores what three cities could look like in 100 years if we harness the tools we have at our disposal. [Directed by Devin Clark, Augenblick Studios, narrated by Alexandra Panzer, music by Tom Kaericher]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
January 9 · 15 min
Want to make change? Let young people tell their stories | Anshul Tewari
As a teenager, social entrepreneur Anshul Tewari didn’t see young voices represented in the conversations that mattered. His solution? A simple blog that has since transformed into Youth Ki Awaaz (Voice of the Youth): India’s largest citizen media platform, where more than 200,000 young people write about underrepresented issues every month. From stories of bringing electricity to forgotten villages to launching national climate campaigns, Tewari reveals how authentic storytelling can build individual and collective agency for change. After the talk, Sherrell reflects on how to design systems that encourages participation—not clicks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
January 2 · 35 min
What happens in your brain when you pay attention? w/ Dr. Sasha Hamdani | from TED Health
Attention isn't just about what we focus on -- it's also about what our brains filter out. By investigating patterns in the brain as people try to focus, computational neuroscientist Mehdi Ordikhani-Seyedlar hopes to build computer models that can be used to treat ADHD and help those who have lost the ability to communicate. Hear more about this exciting science in this brief, fascinating talk. After the talk, Shoshana speaks with psychiatrist and ADHD specialist Dr. Sasha Hamdani on transforming healthcare for patients and families with ADHD. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 26, 2025 · 55 min
What 2025 Taught Us—And Where 2026 Is Taking Us
What do foot massage parties, otters, and AI robot tutors have in common? To find out, tune into our special end-of-year conversation featuring the hosts from TED Talks Daily, TED Radio Hour, TED Business, and TED Tech! Elise Hu, Manoush Zomorodi, Modupe Akinola and Sherrell Dorsey got together to share the biggest ideas dominating their industry and the lesser-known insights they wished garnered more attention. From pushing back against AI advances to sharing the TED Talks that inspired them, Elise, Manoush, Modupe, and Sherrell reflect on 2025 and look ahead to 2026. Conversations Mentioned TED Radio Hour Ray Kurzweil, "Could AI extend your life indefinitely? Futurist Ray Kurzweil thinks so" LINK Victor Riparbelli, “Will AI avatars eventually teach our kids?” LINK Philip Johns, “Singapore's otters are butting heads with their human neighbors. Can they coexist?” LINK Restoring trust in government, "Move fast...and fix democracy?" LINK TED Talks Sitoyo Lopokoiyit in conversation with Jacqueline Novogratz "A story of moral imagination and bold entrepreneurship" LINK Sarah Beery, "How AI is unearthing hidden scientific knowledge" LINK Scott Loarie (of iNaturalist), "The surprising power of your nature photos" LINK Daniel Zavala-Araiza, "The best way to lower Earth’s temperature — fast" LINK Jennifer Pahlka, "Coding a better government" LINK Pinky Cole (Slutty Vegan), "How I make vegan food sexy" LINK Jason Huang, "The high-wire act of unlocking clean energy" LINK Jennifer Doudna, "CRISPR's next advance is bigger than you think" LINK Jonny Sun, "You are not alone in your loneliness" LINK Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 19, 2025 · 1 hr 3 min
Dr. Joy Buolamwini | from Design Matters
Dr. Joy Buolamwini is a computer scientist and a poet of code who uses art and research to illuminate the social implications of artificial intelligence. She joins to discuss her career as the founder of the Algorithmic Justice League, her best-selling book Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What is Human in a World of Machines, and her featured role in the acclaimed Netflix documentary Coded Bias. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 12, 2025 · 8 min
The multidimensional magic of modern maps | Peter Wilczynski
Maps have long helped us understand the world — now, they can help us shape it. Digital cartographer Peter Wilczynski introduces the Living Globe: a real-time, data-rich digital twin of Earth that fuses satellite imagery, sensor data and AI. Watch for a glimpse of the future of maps — and learn how these new tools can help us build the future without wrecking the planet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 5, 2025 · 13 min
Is AI ruining music? | Dustin Ballard
What makes music “real” — is it the instruments, the voice, the creator’s intention or something else entirely? Dustin Ballard, the creative force behind the viral channel “There I Ruined It,” explores the weird, wonderful and sometimes unsettling ways AI is reshaping music. With fiddle solos and AI-powered mashups of your favorite songs, he invites us to ask: Are new tools fostering creativity, or just making noise? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 28, 2025 · 29 min
Tech Solutions (#4): How organizations can grow in a post-aid world (with Jacqueline Novogratz)
When the Trump administration dismantled USAID, it was the beginning of a post-aid era, says philanthropist and social entrepreneur Jacqueline Novogratz. Aid may not be coming back but in its place Jacqueline hopes creative solutions will emerge to provide independence and dignity at the community level. Jacqueline is the CEO of Acumen and has helped move over $500 million to businesses tackling poverty and climate injustice. She and Sherrell discuss how Acumen works to build newer and smarter economic models of philanthropy, the responsibilities investors have to helping organizations grow with dignity, and why projects that help local communities excite her. This is episode four of a four-part series airing this month on TED Tech, where host and climate tech journalist Sherrell Dorsey speaks with climate leaders on the technology sparking a greener, more equitable future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.