Podcast
TED Tech
Hosted by TED Tech · EN
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.
39episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
How to make AI worth your time with Max Mullen | from WorkLife with Molly Graham
1w ago00:39:58Tap to summarizeIf you’ve tried AI and felt underwhelmed — or if the constant pressure to “just play around with it” makes you want to throw your laptop across the room — you’re not alone. But according to Max Mullen, co-founder of Instacart and one of the most practical thinkers on this technology, you might be closer to becoming an AI expert than you realize. In this episode, Max makes the case that expertise with AI isn’t about taking a course or spending your weekend trying to learn how to use it. Max talks about how to use AI to solve real problems, why you want to try it more than once, and argues that building a relationship with the tool is the key to getting better and faster results. This is the episode for anyone who’s skeptical, behind, or just exhausted by the hype.WorkLife is a podcast from TED where host and company builder Molly Graham and her expert guests talk through the messy feelings we all experience at work. Ambition and failure, joy and burnout, confidence and self-doubt — this show digs into it all to help you build a career without losing yourself. Listen now: https://link.mgln.ai/WxcTph Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →The past and future of clean transportation with Doreen Orishaba, Daniel Sperling, and Gil Tal
2w ago00:23:53Tap to summarizeElectric vehicles have a surprisingly long history. Battery-powered cars have existed since 1881. So why did the world choose to spend over a century investing in fossil fuels? Sherrell explores this question with a talk from engineer Doreen Orishaba. Doreen built Africa's first electric vehicle and now runs 100+ electric buses across East Africa. Her success proves that the countries that did not inherit a broken infrastructure may be best positioned to build what comes next. Then digs deeper into the background of electric cars in a TED-ED lesson from Daniel Sperling and Gil Tal.Talks featuredHow to make transportation quieter, cleaner and cheaper | Doreen OrishabaTED-ED: The surprisingly long history of electric cars | Daniel Sperling and Gil Tal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →What big oil is hiding from you with Cindy Taff and Stephanie Honchell Smith
3w ago00:24:00Tap to summarizeDid you know every time you fill up your gas tank, you’re paying two prices? In this episode, Sherrell shares two talks about what Big Oil has built, what it buried, and what this discovery means for our future. Talks featuredHow to power the world 24/7 — without oil | Cindy TaffWhat the oil industry doesn’t want you to know | Stephanie Honchell Smith Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →Is AI progress stuck? | Jennifer Golbeck (re-release)
4w ago00:14:57Tap to summarizeWill progress in artificial intelligence continue to accelerate, or have we already hit a plateau? Computer scientist Jennifer Golbeck interrogates some of the most high-profile claims about the promises and pitfalls of AI, cutting through the hype to clarify what's worth getting excited about — and what isn't. After the talk, Modupe reminds us that AI is a tool and it's our responsibility to use it wisely. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →Why we need to talk about money to save the planet with Yi Li and Brent Loken
May 100:20:28Tap to summarize“In climate tech, we don’t like talking about money,” says TED Tech host Sherrell Dorsey, but what if avoiding money talk is hurting the planet more than we realize? In this episode, Sherrell is sharing two talks on the past and future of farming and sustainability. Entrepreneur Yi Li speaks on why prioritizing her company’s bottom line is crucial in her work to help Kenyan farmers. Then, Bret Loken explores what farming would look like if it considered profit and scale alongside climate. Talks featuredThe missing piece in climate action (it's not what you think) | Yi LiCan we create the "perfect" farm? | Brent Loken Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →What if our infrastructure could repair itself? with Mark Miodownik and Congrui Jin
Apr 2400:20:06Tap to summarizeWhat if we live in a world where infrastructure maintenance is regenerative? Roads, bridges, and buildings won’t have to rely on taxes or tolls to finance repair, but are constructed with materials capable for self-repair? In this episode, Sherrell is sharing two talks on how two engineers are rethinking ways to design infrastructure that’s greener and more sustainable.Talks featuredThe brilliance of bridges and roads that repair themselves | Mark MiodownikWhat if cracks in concrete could fix themselves? | Congrui Jin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →The probe on a mission to touch the Sun | Nour E. Rawafi (re-release)
Apr 1700:14:51Tap to summarizeFrom its life-sustaining energy to its explosive geomagnetic storms, the Sun has many mysteries, says astrophysicist Nour E. Rawafi. He sheds light on NASA's latest endeavor to better understand our fiery neighbor and its impact on the future of society: sending the cutting-edge Parker Solar Probe deep into the Sun's atmosphere in humanity's closest-ever approach to a star.This episode originally aired in 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →AI is changing how we talk and think. How can we stop it? with Adam Aleksic and Advait Sarkar
Apr 1000:32:50Tap to summarizeAlgorithms 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 featuredWhy are people starting to sound like ChatGPT? | Adam AleksicHow to stop AI from killing your critical thinking | Advait Sarkar Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →How satellite imagery is helping stop deforestation with Tasso Azevedo and Anna Rothschild
Apr 300:19:00Tap to summarizeFrom 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 featuredIs the Amazon Rainforest disappearing? | Anna RothschildHow to see (and stop) deforestation from space | Tasso Azevedo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →How to stop doomscrolling — and what to do instead? (w/ Katherine Cross) | from How to Be a Better Human
Mar 2700:40:02Tap to summarizeIs 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.
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