Ideas Change Everything.
On its 40th anniversary, TED changed its tagline from “Ideas Worth Spreading” to “Ideas Change Everything”, to highlight the powerful and lasting impact of its talks. This new tagline reflects TED’s growth from a small conference to a global platform that inspires real-world changes and promotes lifelong learning.
The TED 2024 conference itself certainly didn’t disappoint, either. Here are some of the talks I found most provocative and mind-bending. For this post I’m going to limit the content to the gist of each talk, with some deeper dives coming in the future on a few of these topics.
1. Expertise and Labour will be near free in the future and Energy and Resources, Plentiful
Legendary investor and techno optimist, Vinod Khosla, had some great predictions about the positive improbables in our future…from near free expertise and labour (thanks to AI and Robotics)…to transformations in energy, food, transportation and more. Here’s a more detailed post, outlining these predictions by Khosla:
2. A New Approximate Metaphor For Artificial Intelligence – A New Digital Species?
Mustafa Suleyman (former co-founder of DeepMind and Inflection AI and now heading up Microsoft’s AI efforts) had a rough metaphor about how we could think about the Artificial Intelligences we’re building…a new digital ‘species’. He admitted this was far from a perfect metaphor, but it forces us to think about these AIs as more than just tools, plus the capabilities we may want to steer clear of, like uninhibited automation and self-recursive improvement.
3. AGI Will Help Us Answer The Biggest Human Questions
Demis Hassabis, the CEO of Google DeepMind had a great interview with Chris Anderson, where they rehashed some of the legendary Alpha series innovations, like AlphaGo, AlphaFold, etc. plus reiterated how he feels building AI will also help us answer some of our deepest philosophical questions, including the very nature of reality. When the issue of Project Stargate came up (Microsoft and OpenAI’s plans to build a $100 billion data center and supercomputer), Demis hinted that Google would probably be spending far more than that.
4. Spatial Intelligence: Training Computers To Navigate Our 3D World Will Create The Ultimate Companions
Fei-Fei Li, is a computer science professor at Stanford University who started the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI. In her talk, Fei Fei covered the evolution of sight, including computer vision…but seeing is ultimately for doing and learning, and developing spatial intelligence will transform the ability for AI and robots to navigate our complex, 3D world. This will help us create the ultimate digital companions.
5. ‘Liquid Networks’ Will Help Make AI & Robotics Much More Intelligent And Adaptive To Our Physical World
Daniela Rus, the director of MIT’s Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, explored the fusion of AI with robotics, aiming to create intelligent machines that assist with both physical tasks and cognitive challenges, speeding up scientific discoveries and addressing major global issues. She introduced “physical intelligence,” where AI extends beyond screens into real-world interactions. A key innovation she discussed is “liquid networks,” a streamlined AI system that reduces the need for thousands of neurons to just a few, allowing these networks to learn and adapt continuously—making them highly effective for practical use in dynamic environments. This advancement is pivotal as it enables robots to act more intelligently and responsively in everyday settings.
6. Exponential Progress Will Continue And We’ll Hit ‘Longevity Escape Velocity’. Plus The Singularity Is…Nearer.
Ray Kurzweil, who’s been a leading thinker in AI (for over 61 years), has made major contributions to speech, text, and audio tech. He’s written five bestselling books and works at Google, exploring how technology affects our future. In his book “The Singularity Is Near,” he predicted that AI will outsmart human intelligence by 2029 and humans will merge with AI by 2045. The mind bending thing is that Ray’s predictions have mainly stayed on track…particularly the exponential growth we’ve seen in computing power, at ever reducing cost. e.g. Nvidia’s latest B200 GPU can perform up to 11.5 quintillion calculations per second as part of their new generation of DGX SuperPOD computers.
In his talk, Ray talked about his past and future predictions, including how AI will supercharge many fields and expand consciousness, plus transform medicine (and “Longevity Escape Velocity” where we’ll eventually start to reverse the effects of aging in a couple of decades). His new book is titled “The Singularity Is Nearer” and releases on 25th June, 2024.
7. Everyone Will Be Able To Speak Machine Language. AI Will Help Create Over A Billion ‘Programmers’
Thomas Dohmke, the CEO of GitHub, is changing how computer programming works. He introduced GitHub Copilot, an AI tool that makes writing code easier and is part of the Microsoft Copilot system. In his talk, he said that AI is opening up programming to many more people, predicting that the number of programmers could jump from less than 1% to 10% of the world’s population. In his own words, “the floodgates of nerditude have now swung wide open” 😄
8. Quantum Computing Will Solve The Currently Unsolvable and Help Expand Human Consciousness
Hartmut Neven leads Google Quantum AI, a lab working on some of the most advanced quantum computing technologies. He’s also exploring whether quantum processes can lead to consciousness by working with other researchers. Google’s goal is to build a large, error-free quantum computer by 2030 that can solve massive problems current computers can’t handle.
In his talk, Hartmut discussed Google’s progress, including their 100 Qbit quantum computer, and envisioned future applications like phones detecting viruses and smartwatches identifying allergens. He also left plenty perplexed with his thoughts on the multiverse and time crystals…clearly a talk you’ve got to watch a few times to fully understand!
9. ChoreoRobotics Is A Thing: Teaching Robots To Dance Will Make Them More Graceful, Accepted Companions
Catie Cuan, an artist, engineer, and robot choreographer who combines art with technology to explore how AI operates in robotic forms. In her performance “Breathless: Catie and the Robot,” she danced non-stop for eight hours with a robot in New York to depict a modern workday. During her TED talk, Catie shared how giving robots the ability to dance could make them better caregivers, teachers, and companions in our daily lives.
Here’s a short highlight from Catie’s own YouTube channel:
10. Live AI-Assisted Translation Is Already Pretty Incredible (And Can Be Delivered In The Original Speaker’s Voice)
Cai Guo-Qiang is an artist known for his innovative use of gunpowder and fireworks, like in his “Sky Ladder” event in China, which was featured in a Netflix documentary. He has showcased his art in top museums around the world and worked on the Beijing Olympics ceremonies. Recently, he’s been exploring artificial intelligence in his art. During his TED talk, which he gave in Mandarin, a live human translator translated his words into English, while AI technology converted the translation into Cai’s own voice. Note: The TED team used MetaPhysic’s tech for this feat (you may remember them from last year’s TED, where they demoed real time deep fakes).
11. AI Agents Will Transform Storytelling And Gameplay
Kylan Gibbs combines AI with gaming to create more realistic and immersive game worlds. He has developed tools that allow game developers to create AI-powered characters with depth and intelligence. Previously at Google DeepMind, he worked on AI research and language models. In his TED talk, Kylan explained how using AI Agents in video games enhances the gaming experience by creating unique outcomes and stories based on each player’s decisions (vs following scripted story rails and dialogue). The fun Inworld demo at TED was also a great experience! Also see my past article on the joys and perils of ‘AI Characters‘.
12. AI Has Democratized Art and Self Expression – Sometimes In The Most Weird And Wonderful Ways
Niceaunties (Wenhui), an artist based in Singapore, uses her background in architecture to create AI art that combines dreamlike imagery with deep concepts. Wenhui admits she has 11 aunties herself…and her work attempts to put a positive but surreal spin on “aunty culture”. Her art explores themes of aging, beauty, and personal freedom, embodying empowerment and self-expression. Bilawal Sidhu perhaps described her work best…as akin to “scrolling through inter-dimensional social media.“
13. The Swallowable Pillbot – How MicroRobotics Can Help Replace Invasive & Expensive Medical Procedures
Vivek Kumbhari, a physician-scientist known for his work in minimally invasive endoscopic procedures, and Alex Luebke, a leader in satellite technology, have joined forces at Endiatx to develop micro-robotics for early disease detection inside the human body. During their TED2024 talk, they demonstrated PillBot, a wireless microbot that can be swallowed to provide internal views, potentially replacing more invasive procedures like endoscopies (Alex swallowed PillBot and Vivek was able to control it using a game controller, with a live video feed showing the inside of Alex’s stomach).
14. We’re (Likely) Not Alone In The Universe…After All, That Would Be Terribly Arrogant To Assume
Avi Loeb is a Harvard scientist who studies extraterrestrial intelligent life and is the head of Harvard’s Galileo Project and the Black Hole Initiative. He has written nine books, including a bestseller about intelligent life beyond Earth, and has authored over a thousand scientific papers on various cosmic phenomena. In his TED talk, Avi makes a sometimes funny and often compelling case for greater investments in exploration…and that if we’re ‘lonely’ as a species, perhaps sitting at home and waiting for a phone call wasn’t the answer. He recently returned from an ocean expedition near Papua New Guinea where he used a magnetic sled to search the seafloor for fragments of what he believes is an interstellar meteor that exploded in 2014, claiming to have found tiny metallic spheres that could prove its origin beyond our solar system. He believes that in the next decade, we will likely find convincing evidence that there is indeed, life out there…and we’re not alone.
15. Successful Fusion Tech Can Give Us Access To Unlimited, Clean Energy. It May Be Possible In Our Lifetimes
Tammy Ma leads a project at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory where they create mini stars to develop clean, unlimited energy from fusion. In her TED talk, she explained that their team built the world’s most powerful laser and achieved a historic fusion reaction in 2022, producing more energy than it consumed, which could lead to endless clean energy in the future.
16. The World’s First ‘Audio Computer’ Promises To Let You Learn, Work, Shop & Create Using Your Voice
Jason Rugolo, a deep tech inventor and CEO of a startup called iyo, is working on a revolutionary computing platform that doesn’t use screens. In his TED talk, he demonstrated IYO ONE, the world’s first audio computer that lets people learn, work, shop, and create using voice commands, aiming to enhance productivity without screen distractions.
17. Quadratic Funding Can Democratize Crowdfunding Campaigns And Make Them Much More Equitable
Kevin Owocki, founder of Gitcoin, has created a platform that uses cryptocurrency to fund projects that people care about, raising over $55 million.
In his TED talk, he explained how quadratic funding can make crowdfunding campaigns more democratic by ensuring projects with wider support receive more funds, rather than just those with larger individual contributions.
18. AI ‘Neural Operators’ Are Helping Create More Accurate, Practical Models & Applications In The Real World
Caltech professor Anima Anandkumar has developed AI algorithms that have significantly improved areas like weather forecasting and drug discovery. In her TED talk, she explained how her innovations, particularly neural operators, enhance AI’s understanding of complex, real-world processes, helping to create more accurate models for various scientific and practical applications e.g. a better medical catheter that reduces the chance of bacterial infections.
19. In A Decade From Now, Gender And Age May No Longer Be A Barrier To Creating Human Babies
Katsuhiko Hayashi is a professor at Osaka University who leads a research team that successfully created mice from the skin cells of two male parents. He works in in vitro gametogenesis (IVG), a new and ethically complex field that could potentially revive extinct species and develop human embryos artificially. His work suggests that in the future, neither gender nor age may limit the ability to have a baby with someone.
20. Despite What Mainstream Media May Have You Believe…It’s Not All Bad News, We ARE Making Progress
Angus Hervey, an economist and journalist, founded Fix The News to highlight positive global developments through his weekly newsletter, which covers everything from scientific breakthroughs to human rights improvements. In his TED talk, Angus explains how the source of your news can shape your view of the world, and he shares uplifting stories missed by mainstream media*, such as progress in clean energy, education, species restoration and reductions in crime, disease, poverty, pollution and more.
*”If it bleeds, it leads” has long guided mainstream media, emphasizing coverage of shocking or violent stories to attract viewers and simplify reporting. This often leaves the public more cynical and less informed about positive developments.
The Future Is As Bright As We Want It To Be
Reflecting on these revelations from TED 2024, it’s easy to feel uplifted by the groundbreaking ideas that promise a brighter future. However, it’s also important to recognize the challenges of turning these ideas into reality. Even the most enthusiastic supporters of technology, myself included, must admit there are significant hurdles to overcome. As we look ahead, the journey to a fair and prosperous future isn’t just about innovations—it’s also about our collective effort to navigate these challenges.
In closing, here are a couple of thoughts from TED 2024 speakers:
“They find a remedy because they seek it together”
“Find something more important than you and dedicate your life to it”
Let’s work together to create a future that reflects our highest hopes and not our deepest fears.
Which of the above ideas appeal to YOU the most? Would you like to learn more about any specific speakers / topics…if so, leave a comment or DM me. Also, watch this space for more video updates as they’re posted publicly…and a couple of deeper dives.
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