How AI is discovering athletes that human scouts miss | Richard Felton-Thomas

Two current US governors — Democrat Matt Meyer of Delaware and Republican J. Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma — trade notes on how to rebuild trust without partisan theater. In this special segment of "On the Spot" (TED's rapid-fire Q&A format), they share thoughts on leading when people live in different realities, swapping outrage for outcomes and why we need to govern like neighbors, not enemies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author A.J. Jacobs embarked on a quest with a deceptively simple idea at its heart: to personally thank every person who helped make his morning cup of coffee. More than one thousand "thank yous" later, Jacobs reflects on the globe-trotting journey that ensued -- and shares the life-altering wisdom he picked up along the way. "I discovered that my coffee would not be possible without hundreds of people I take for granted," Jacobs says. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If we can put astronauts on the moon, conservationists shouldn't have to hike miles through dense forests to change the batteries on cameras, says Juan M. Lavista Ferres, chief data scientist at the AI for Good Lab. He introduces SPARROW, an open-source, solar-powered AI system that can analyze sounds and images to turn years of biodiversity monitoring into real-time insights, giving conservationists the tools they need to protect wildlife and critical ecosystems before it’s too late. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When entrepreneur Samir Ibrahim asked farmers in Kenya what problem they most needed solved, the answer was simple: reliable access to water to irrigate their farms year-round. Samir is the CEO of SunCulture, a company replacing diesel- and petrol-powered water pumps with more affordable solar-powered ones. He sits down with Sherrell Dorsey, host of the “TED Tech” podcast, to discuss how he continues to innovate his product to serve smallholder farmers. Later, Sherrell chats with coffee farmer Josephine Waweru about how SunCulture’s pump revolutionized her farm and the advice she has for young people to succeed.This is episode one of a four-part series airing this month on TED Tech, where host and climate tech journalist Sherrell Dorsey speaks with climate leaders on the technology sparking a greener, more equitable future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hollywood needs to stop resisting what the world actually looks like, says actor, director and activist America Ferrera. Tracing the contours of her career, she calls for more authentic representation of different cultures in media -- and a shift in how we tell our stories. "Presence creates possibility," she says. "Who we see thriving in the world teaches us how to see ourselves, how to think about our own value, how to dream about our futures." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Your blood should have more in common with ketchup than just color, says chemical engineer Sean Farrington. Demonstrating the flow of everyday products like shampoo, peanut butter and ketchup, he makes the case for expanding the use of blood viscosity as a medical diagnostic, much like blood pressure. Learn more about the little-known field of rheology and how it could save lives — if taken seriously. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When conservationists talk about rewilding, most people picture wolves and bison roaming endless landscapes — but Isabella Tree discovered the real revolution is happening in ordinary backyards. She shares the incredible story of how she and her husband transformed their failing farmland into a nature paradise, offering a three-step formula for anyone looking to turn their green space wild. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the next Lionel Messi or Simone Biles is out there right now ... but no one knows? Sports scientist Richard Felton-Thomas shows how new AI tools are expanding the reach of talent discovery in sports, helping scouts find the next great superstar — and letting athletes showcase their skills from anywhere in the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if you had an AI-powered assistant — that took initiative on its own? Technology leader Swami Sivasubramanian believes AI agents are the future of work, capable of sparking new levels of productivity and creativity. Demystifying the workings of autonomous software systems, he explains what they are (and aren’t) and advocates for a world in which AI handles the boring stuff, so you can focus on what matters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The AI revolution and our aging power grid are on a historic collision course, threatening to stall innovation and raise energy costs for everyone. Physicist and AI grid futurist Varun Sivaram reveals how we might turn this looming crisis into a once-in-a-generation opportunity — unlocking massive power capacity, lowering costs and accelerating the energy future we’ve been waiting for. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.