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Monday, January 26, 2026
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Digest for 1/26/2026

Explore trending topics with matching TED talks and AI insights

2 Topics • 6 Talks

Trending Topics

Featured TED Talks

The Ethical Implications of AI in Everyday Life
Can we build AI without losing control over it? by Sam Harris

Can we build AI without losing control over it?

by Sam Harris

Scared of superintelligent AI? You should be, says neuroscientist and philosopher Sam Harris -- and not just in some theoretical way. We're going to build superhuman machines, says Harris, but we haven't yet grappled with the politics and ethics of how best to contain and manage them.

Summary

Sam Harris's TED talk 'Can we build AI without losing control over it?' delves into the risks of superintelligent AI outpacing human oversight, directly tying into the ethical implications of AI in everyday life by warning of potential existential threats if we fail to align AI goals with human values.

"The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race. Once humans develop artificial intelligence, it would take off on its own and re-design itself at an ever-increasing rate."

Discuss: What steps should society take to mitigate the ethical risks of AI integration in daily activities, ensuring human control remains paramount?

Watch Talk (14:30)View Discussion
The Ethical Implications of AI in Everyday Life
We're building a dystopia just to make people click on ads by Zeynep Tufekci

We're building a dystopia just to make people click on ads

by Zeynep Tufekci

We're building an artificial intelligence-powered dystopia, one click at a time, says techno-sociologist Zeynep Tufekci. In an eye-opening talk, Tufekci explains how the same algorithms companies like Facebook, Google and Amazon use to get you to click on ads are also used to organize your access to political and social information.

Summary

Zeynep Tufekci's TED Talk critiques how AI algorithms, optimized for ad engagement, foster a dystopian surveillance culture, raising ethical concerns about privacy, manipulation, and societal control in daily AI interactions.

"We're building a dystopia just to make people click on ads."

Discuss: What steps can individuals and society take to mitigate the ethical risks of AI-driven advertising in everyday life?

Watch Talk (22:30)View Discussion
The Ethical Implications of AI in Everyday Life
A handful of tech companies control billions of minds every day by Tristan Harris

A handful of tech companies control billions of minds every day

by Tristan Harris

A handful of people working at a handful of tech companies steer the thoughts of billions of people every day, from running elections to what we see and think. Tristan Harris argues that technology is hijacking our attention and what we can do about it.

Summary

Tristan Harris's TED talk exposes how a few tech companies manipulate billions of minds daily through attention-grabbing algorithms, tying directly into the ethical implications of AI in everyday life, where AI-driven platforms can influence behavior, spread misinformation, and erode privacy without accountability.

"A handful of people, working at a handful of technology companies, through their choices will steer what a billion people are thinking today."

Discuss: What steps can individuals and regulators take to mitigate the ethical risks of AI controlling daily information flows and user attention?

Watch Talk (16:54)View Discussion
Quantum Computing: Revolutionizing Data Processing
A beginner's guide to quantum computing by Shohini Ghose

A beginner's guide to quantum computing

by Shohini Ghose

Shohini Ghose wants us to get excited about quantum computers, which operate using an entirely different logic than classical computing. She explains the basics and explores what makes quantum computing so powerful.

Summary

Shohini Ghose's TED talk 'A beginner's guide to quantum computing' breaks down the fundamentals of quantum mechanics applied to computing, highlighting how qubits enable parallel processing that could transform data handling, aligning perfectly with the trending topic of quantum computing revolutionizing data processing.

"Quantum computing is not just about speed; it's about exploring new realms of possibility."

Discuss: What potential challenges might arise as quantum computing advances data processing capabilities?

Watch Talk (10:04)View Discussion
Quantum Computing: Revolutionizing Data Processing
Quantum computing and the limits of the efficient universe by Scott Aaronson

Quantum computing and the limits of the efficient universe

by Scott Aaronson

Scott Aaronson discusses how quantum computers could solve problems that are intractable for classical computers, revolutionizing data processing.

Summary

Scott Aaronson's TED talk delves into quantum computing's potential to redefine computational efficiency, challenging the universe's limits on problem-solving speed, which ties directly into the trending topic of quantum computing revolutionizing data processing by enabling unprecedented speeds for complex calculations.

"The universe is not just a place where things happen; it's a giant computation."

Discuss: In what ways could quantum computing's efficiency limits impact future advancements in AI and cryptography?

Watch Talk (18:00)View Discussion
Quantum Computing: Revolutionizing Data Processing
How quantum computing will change the world by Dario Gil

How quantum computing will change the world

by Dario Gil

Dario Gil explores how quantum computing will transform industries by revolutionizing data processing and simulation.

Summary

In Dario Gil's TED talk 'How quantum computing will change the world,' he explores the transformative power of quantum computers, which aligns perfectly with the trending topic of Quantum Computing: Revolutionizing Data Processing. Gil explains how quantum bits (qubits) enable exponential processing speeds, solving complex problems in seconds that would take classical computers millennia, potentially revolutionizing fields like cryptography, drug discovery, and AI-driven data analysis.

"Quantum computing is not just a faster computer; it's a fundamentally new way of computing that will unlock discoveries we can't even imagine today."

Discuss: What industries do you believe will be most transformed by quantum computing's data processing capabilities, and why?

Watch Talk (16:00)View Discussion