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Wednesday, January 28, 2026
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Digest for 1/28/2026

Explore trending topics with matching TED talks and AI insights

3 Topics • 9 Talks

Trending Topics

Featured TED Talks

How AI is Revolutionizing Political Campaigns
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 algorithms and surveillance capitalism create a dystopian society to boost ad clicks, directly relating to AI's role in political campaigns where targeted ads and data manipulation influence voters and amplify polarization.

"We're building a dystopia just to make people click on ads... We're handing society over to this assemblage of algorithms that we don't understand."

Discuss: In what ways might AI-driven political campaigns exacerbate societal divisions, and how can regulations prevent this dystopian outcome?

Watch Talk (22:30)View Discussion
How AI is Revolutionizing Political Campaigns
Beware online "filter bubbles" by Eli Pariser

Beware online "filter bubbles"

by Eli Pariser

Eli Pariser warns about personalized algorithms creating filter bubbles that limit exposure to diverse ideas, affecting political discourse and campaigns.

Summary

Eli Pariser's TED talk 'Beware online "filter bubbles"' highlights how personalized algorithms create echo chambers that limit exposure to diverse viewpoints, fueling misinformation and polarization—key challenges in defending democracy today.

"We really need the internet to be that thing that we all dreamed of it being. We need it to connect us all together. We need it to introduce us to new ideas and new people and different perspectives."

Discuss: How can individuals and platforms work to burst filter bubbles and promote a more informed democratic society?

Watch Talk (9:00)View Discussion
The Global Race to Net Zero: Political Challenges and Solutions
New thinking on the climate crisis by Al Gore

New thinking on the climate crisis

by Al Gore

In this brand-new slideshow (premiering on TED.com), Al Gore presents evidence that the pace of climate change may be even worse than scientists recently predicted. He challenges us to act.

Summary

Al Gore's TED talk 'New thinking on the climate crisis' urges bold political action and innovative strategies to address global warming, aligning with the trending topic of the race to net zero by highlighting political hurdles like denialism and proposing solutions through renewable energy adoption and international cooperation.

"We have everything we need to get started, with the possible exception of the will to act."

Discuss: What political strategies from Al Gore's talk could help overcome challenges in the global push for net zero emissions?

Watch Talk (28:00)View Discussion
The Global Race to Net Zero: Political Challenges and Solutions
10 years to transform the future of humanity -- or destabilize the planet by Johan Rockström

10 years to transform the future of humanity -- or destabilize the planet

by Johan Rockström

Planetary scientist Johan Rockström shares a new way of thinking about the human impact on the climate and why swift action is needed to avoid environmental catastrophe.

Summary

Johan Rockström's TED talk emphasizes the critical 10-year window to transform humanity's trajectory and prevent planetary destabilization through urgent action on climate and environmental boundaries, mirroring the global race to net zero by addressing political challenges like policy inertia and international cooperation for sustainable solutions.

"We have 10 years left to avoid crossing tipping points that could destabilize the planet."

Discuss: What political strategies can accelerate the global transition to net zero while overcoming resistance from fossil fuel-dependent economies?

Watch Talk (13:03)View Discussion
Defending Democracy in the Age of Misinformation
Facebook's role in Brexit — and the threat to democracy by Carole Cadwalladr

Facebook's role in Brexit — and the threat to democracy

by Carole Cadwalladr

Journalist Carole Cadwalladr investigates how data analytics and targeted ads on Facebook influenced the Brexit vote and the 2016 US election, highlighting the dangers of AI-driven misinformation in democratic processes.

Summary

Carole Cadwalladr's TED talk reveals how Facebook enabled misinformation campaigns during Brexit, manipulating voters and eroding trust in democratic institutions, directly tying into current efforts to defend democracy against widespread misinformation.

"Multiple crimes took place during the referendum, and they took place on Facebook."

Discuss: What steps should governments and tech companies take to safeguard elections from social media-driven misinformation?

Watch Talk (15:00)View Discussion
Defending Democracy in the Age of Misinformation
How we can protect truth in the age of misinformation by Sinan Aral

How we can protect truth in the age of misinformation

by Sinan Aral

Fake news can sway elections, tank economies and sow discord in everyday life. Data scientist Sinan Aral demystifies how and why it spreads so quickly -- citing one of the largest studies on misinformation -- and identifies five strategies to help us unweave the tangled web between true and false.

Summary

Sinan Aral's TED Talk on protecting truth from misinformation directly supports the trending topic of defending democracy, offering data-driven strategies to combat fake news and social media's role in spreading falsehoods that undermine public trust and electoral integrity.

"Fake news on Twitter spreads six times faster than the truth."

Discuss: What role should social media platforms play in curbing misinformation to safeguard democratic processes?

Watch Talk (14:30)View Discussion
Defending Democracy in the Age of Misinformation
Beware online "filter bubbles" by Eli Pariser

Beware online "filter bubbles"

by Eli Pariser

Eli Pariser warns about personalized algorithms creating filter bubbles that limit exposure to diverse ideas, affecting political discourse and campaigns.

Summary

Eli Pariser's TED talk 'Beware online "filter bubbles"' highlights how personalized algorithms create echo chambers that limit exposure to diverse viewpoints, fueling misinformation and polarization—key challenges in defending democracy today.

"We really need the internet to be that thing that we all dreamed of it being. We need it to connect us all together. We need it to introduce us to new ideas and new people and different perspectives."

Discuss: How can individuals and platforms work to burst filter bubbles and promote a more informed democratic society?

Watch Talk (9:00)View Discussion
How AI is Revolutionizing Political Campaigns
The era of blind faith in big data must end by Cathy O'Neil

The era of blind faith in big data must end

by Cathy O'Neil

Algorithms decide who gets a loan, who gets a job interview, and even who goes to jail. Cathy O'Neil reveals how these models can encode human prejudice and affect political decisions.

Summary

Cathy O'Neil's TED talk critiques the blind faith in big data, highlighting how algorithms can perpetuate biases and harm society. This directly relates to the trending topic of AI revolutionizing political campaigns, where data-driven tools for voter targeting and misinformation could amplify these risks if not scrutinized.

"Algorithms are opinions embedded in code."

Discuss: In what ways might unchecked AI in political campaigns lead to societal harm, and how can we foster more accountable data practices?

Watch Talk (12:48)View Discussion
The Global Race to Net Zero: Political Challenges and Solutions
The inside story of the Paris climate agreement by Christiana Figueres

The inside story of the Paris climate agreement

by Christiana Figueres

What would you do if your job was to save the planet? When Christiana Figueres was tapped by the UN to lead the Paris climate conference (COP 21) in December 2015, she reacted the way many people would: she thought it would be impossible to bring the leaders of 195 countries into agreement on how to slow climate change. Find out how she turned 'impossible' into 'possible' -- and how you can, too.

Summary

Christiana Figueres' TED talk reveals the political maneuvering and optimism behind the Paris Agreement, offering insights into overcoming global divisions for climate action. This mirrors the current race to net zero, where similar diplomatic strategies could address political barriers and drive sustainable solutions.

"The Paris Agreement was born out of stubborn optimism and collective determination, proving that political will can triumph over division."

Discuss: What lessons from the Paris Agreement's negotiation can world leaders apply to accelerate the global push toward net zero emissions?

Watch Talk (15:00)View Discussion