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Wednesday, February 25, 2026
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Digest for 2/25/2026

Explore trending topics with matching TED talks and AI insights

3 Topics • 9 Talks

Trending Topics

Featured TED Talks

The Future of Democracy in the Age of AI
Why fascism is so tempting -- and how your data could power it by Yuval Noah Harari

Why fascism is so tempting -- and how your data could power it

by Yuval Noah Harari

Historian Yuval Noah Harari warns that data and AI could enable totalitarian regimes, threatening democracy by manipulating human behavior.

Summary

Yuval Noah Harari's TED talk warns that AI's ability to process vast personal data could empower fascist regimes by manipulating emotions and behaviors, directly threatening the future of democracy as AI integrates deeper into governance and society.

"In the 21st century, data is the most valuable asset on earth -- and it could be used to create the most efficient dictatorships in history."

Discuss: How might AI-driven data collection erode democratic freedoms, and what policies could prevent this?

Watch Talk (17:00)View Discussion
The Future of Democracy in the Age of AI
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 highlights how a few tech companies manipulate billions of minds daily through attention-grabbing algorithms, directly linking to concerns about AI's role in shaping public opinion and threatening democratic processes by amplifying misinformation and polarization.

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

Discuss: How can we redesign AI systems to protect democratic values rather than exploit human vulnerabilities?

Watch Talk (16:54)View Discussion
The Future of Democracy in the Age of AI
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-driven platforms prioritize ad revenue through manipulative algorithms, fostering polarization and misinformation that endanger democracy's future in an AI-dominated era.

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

Discuss: How might AI algorithms be regulated to safeguard democratic processes from commercial exploitation?

Watch Talk (22:30)View Discussion
Navigating Geopolitical Tensions: Paths to Peace
Fighting with non-violence by Scilla Elworthy

Fighting with non-violence

by Scilla Elworthy

Scilla Elworthy shares her experiences in peace-building and explains how non-violent methods can be more effective in resolving conflicts and geopolitical tensions.

Summary

Scilla Elworthy's TED Talk 'Fighting with non-violence' highlights proven non-violent strategies for confronting injustice and war, directly relevant to navigating geopolitical tensions by promoting dialogue, empathy, and grassroots activism as paths to sustainable peace.

"Violence is a failure of imagination."

Discuss: In what ways can non-violent methods from Elworthy's talk be applied to resolve ongoing geopolitical conflicts like those in Ukraine or the Middle East?

Watch Talk (17:00)View Discussion
Navigating Geopolitical Tensions: Paths to Peace
Pay attention to nonviolence by Julia Bacha

Pay attention to nonviolence

by Julia Bacha

Julia Bacha discusses how media attention on nonviolent movements can lead to paths of peace in regions of geopolitical tension, drawing from examples in the Middle East.

Summary

In her TED Talk 'Pay attention to nonviolence,' Julia Bacha highlights how media often overlooks nonviolent movements in conflicts, such as in the Israeli-Palestinian context, perpetuating violence. Linking to the trending topic of Navigating Geopolitical Tensions: Paths to Peace, Bacha argues that shifting attention to nonviolent efforts can foster sustainable peace by empowering constructive alternatives to conflict.

"If we don't pay attention to them [nonviolent leaders], they don't exist."

Discuss: How might increased media focus on nonviolent initiatives help de-escalate current geopolitical tensions and promote paths to peace?

Watch Talk (11:00)View Discussion
Navigating Geopolitical Tensions: Paths to Peace
How nationalism and globalism can coexist by Wanis Kabbaj

How nationalism and globalism can coexist

by Wanis Kabbaj

Why do we have to choose between nationalism and globalism, between loving our countries and caring for the world? In a talk with lessons for avowed nationalists and globalists alike, Wanis Kabbaj explains how we can challenge this "us-versus-them" narrative and be patriotic without being nationalistic.

Summary

In his TED talk, Wanis Kabbaj argues that nationalism and globalism aren't mutually exclusive but can coexist harmoniously, using the human body as a metaphor where individual cells (nations) contribute to the whole organism (global society). This perspective links directly to navigating geopolitical tensions by promoting paths to peace through balanced national pride and international collaboration.

"Nationalism and globalism are not enemies. They are two sides of the same coin."

Discuss: How might embracing both nationalism and globalism help resolve current geopolitical conflicts and foster lasting peace?

Watch Talk (4:01)View Discussion
Empowering Voices: The Rise of Grassroots Movements
How to start a movement by Derek Sivers

How to start a movement

by Derek Sivers

With help from some surprising footage, Derek Sivers explains how movements really get started. (Hint: it takes two.)

Summary

Derek Sivers' TED Talk 'How to Start a Movement' perfectly aligns with the rise of grassroots movements by demonstrating how a single act of courage can ignite collective action, empowering everyday voices to drive change through the pivotal role of early followers.

"The first follower is what transforms a lone nut into a leader."

Discuss: In what ways can modern grassroots movements apply Sivers' insights on leadership and followership to amplify marginalized voices?

Watch Talk (3:03)View Discussion
Empowering Voices: The Rise of Grassroots Movements
What new power looks like by Jeremy Heimans

What new power looks like

by Jeremy Heimans

We can see the power of distributed, crowd-sourced business models every day — witness Uber, Kickstarter, Airbnb. But veteran online activist Jeremy Heimans asks: When does that kind of 'new power' start to work in politics?

Summary

Jeremy Heimans' TED talk 'What new power looks like' examines the shift from hierarchical 'old power' to participatory 'new power' in grassroots movements, mirroring the trending rise of empowering voices through digital mobilization and collective action.

"New power operates differently, like a current. It is made by many. It is open, participatory, and peer-driven."

Discuss: In what ways can 'new power' principles enhance modern grassroots movements to empower marginalized voices?

Watch Talk (16:00)View Discussion
Empowering Voices: The Rise of Grassroots Movements
The disarming case to act right now on climate change by Greta Thunberg

The disarming case to act right now on climate change

by Greta Thunberg

In this passionate call to action, 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg explains why, in August 2018, she walked out of school and organized a strike to raise awareness of global warming, protesting outside Sweden's parliament and grabbing the world's attention.

Summary

Greta Thunberg's TED Talk powerfully illustrates the rise of grassroots movements by highlighting how her solo school strike evolved into the global Fridays for Future initiative, empowering young voices to demand urgent climate action and inspiring widespread activism.

"Our house is on fire. I am here to say, our house is on fire."

Discuss: How can grassroots movements like those led by Greta Thunberg influence policy changes on global issues such as climate change?

Watch Talk (11:06)View Discussion