TED Tech
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
10 snips
May 8, 2026 • 15min
Is AI progress stuck? | Jennifer Golbeck (re-release)
Jennifer Golbeck, computer scientist and AI researcher known for work on social media and algorithmic bias. She challenges AGI alarmism and spotlights current harms like biased algorithms and hallucinations. Reliability, data limits, and misuse in law and research get sharp scrutiny. She also discusses economic impacts on work and why human intelligence cannot simply be replicated.
May 1, 2026 • 20min
Why we need to talk about money to save the planet with Yi Li and Brent Loken
Brent Loken, a food systems scientist reimagining farms for climate and scale, and Yi Li, a Kenyan agtech founder building profitable, climate-smart market routes for farmers. They discuss profit-first approaches, market failures that spoil harvests, scaling sustainable farming, low-cost tech and regenerative practices, and how economics shapes lasting climate solutions.
5 snips
Apr 24, 2026 • 20min
What if our infrastructure could repair itself? with Mark Miodownik and Congrui Jin
Mark Miodownik, a materials scientist exploring animate, self-healing materials. He and others discuss materials that sense damage and mend themselves across scales. Topics include magnetic nanoparticles to heal asphalt, microbe-driven concrete that regrows strength, and plastics engineered to disassemble when needed. They also touch on technical feasibility and economic barriers to widespread use.
14 snips
Apr 17, 2026 • 15min
The probe on a mission to touch the Sun | Nour E. Rawafi (re-release)
Noor E. Rawafi, an astrophysicist leading research on the Parker Solar Probe, discusses close-up discoveries about the Sun. He explores the corona mystery and solar wind. He recounts the probe’s daring close passes and a dramatic CME encounter. He explains how the probe survives extreme heat and why deeper solar study matters for Earth’s future.
49 snips
Apr 10, 2026 • 33min
AI is changing how we talk and think. How can we stop it? with Adam Aleksic and Advait Sarkar
Advait Sarkar, a Microsoft AI and design researcher focused on human–AI interaction, urges tools that preserve critical thinking. Adam Aleksic, an etymologist and creator, explores how algorithms reshape language and spread slang. They discuss how AI and platforms alter thought patterns, accelerate slang diffusion, manufacture niche identities, and how design can protect deliberate thinking.
Apr 3, 2026 • 19min
How satellite imagery is helping stop deforestation with Tasso Azevedo and Anna Rothschild
Anna Rothschild, science journalist and TED-Ed storyteller who explains ecological risks to the Amazon. She discusses what losing the Amazon would do to rainfall, temperatures, and local livelihoods. She also covers economic drivers, tipping point uncertainty, and paths like restoration and indigenous stewardship to slow deforestation.
15 snips
Mar 27, 2026 • 40min
How to stop doomscrolling — and what to do instead? (w/ Katherine Cross) | from How to Be a Better Human
Katherine Cross, researcher of online harassment and author of Log Off, studies how social media shapes political behavior. She discusses why social platforms often feel political but cannot replace collective civic work. Short-form virality, design affordances, and different kinds of online harassment get examined. Practical fixes like platform friction and moving conversations to durable spaces are explored.
24 snips
Mar 20, 2026 • 21min
Is the AI bubble about to burst? | Henrik Zeberg
Henrik Zeyberg, a Danish economist and financial analyst who studies crowd psychology and market bubbles, discusses why AI and crypto may be the largest bubble in history. He examines FOMO, classic crowd experiments, and historical manias. He also contrasts real technological progress with speculative overvaluation and warns of potential severe corrections.
15 snips
Mar 13, 2026 • 16min
Meet NEO, your robot butler in training | Bernt Børnich
Bernt Børnich, roboticist and founder of 1X building humanoid home assistants. He introduces NEO, a household robot that vacuums, waters plants and keeps company. He explains why real homes, not factories, are essential for robot learning. He shares demos, safety-focused soft hardware, and a vision of robots making labor abundant and speeding scientific progress.
23 snips
Mar 6, 2026 • 23min
Everything you need to know about AI agents | Swami Sivasubramanian
Swami Sivasubramanian, VP of Agentic AI at AWS and builder of services like DynamoDB and SageMaker, explains autonomous AI systems. He defines what agents are, contrasts them with chatbots, and outlines milestones for trust and accessibility. He describes how agents can reshape software development, automate workflows like video recaps, and become invisible collaborators that boost creativity and productivity.
