TED Tech

Tech Solutions (#2): How to balance the AI boom and environmental responsibility (with Juan M. Lavista Ferres)

The environmental impact of AI is a growing concern. In this episode, Sherrell sits down with Juan M. Lavista Ferres, the Chief Scientist and Lab Director of Microsoft’s AI for Good Research Lab, to discuss his work in using AI for conservation and sustainability. Whether it’s using AI to measure methane gas leaks or allowing AI to optimize healthcare procedures at reduced costs, Juan argues AI technology can advance conservation efforts and increase accessibility. Sherrell and Juan also discuss the paradox of AI—how to use the technology responsibly and avoid contributing more damage to the environment. This is episode two of a four-part series airing this month on TED Tech, where host and climate tech journalist Sherrell Dorsey is in conversation with TED 2025 Countdown Summit speakers on the technology that can lead to a greener and more equitable future. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Tech Solutions (#1): The affordable tech that will revolutionize farming (with Samir Ibrahim and Josephine Waweru)

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 [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

When AI Cannibalizes Its Data | Short Wave

Today, we’re featuring an episode from NPR’s science podcast Short Wave. In it, host Regina G. Barber talks to computer scientist Ilia Shumailov about maybe the buzziest topic around: AI. I’m sure you know AI models like OpenAI's ChatGPT are trained on millions of examples of human-written text. Nowadays, a lot of content on the Internet is written by these generative AI models. That means that AI models trained now may consume their own synthetic content and suffer the consequences. What's the harm? Find out with this episode of Short Wave. Follow NPR's Short Wave podcast on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-wave/id1482575855] and Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2rTT1klKUoQNuaW2Ah19Pa] for more episodes like this, featuring new discoveries, everyday mysteries and the science behind the headlines. Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave [https://plus.npr.org/shortwave]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The inside story of Notre-Dame's incredible reconstruction | Philippe Villeneuve

In a moment that stunned the world in 2019, the famed Notre-Dame in Paris went up in flames, threatening the future of the centuries-old Gothic treasure. Philippe Villeneuve, the chief architect of the cathedral’s restoration, recounts the collective effort to bring the building back to life while honoring its history. Listen for a story of craftsmanship, devotion and innovation — and learn how more than 2,000 hands worked to return this landmark to the world. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

I’ll probably lose my job to AI. Here’s why that’s OK | Megan J. McArdle

Artificial intelligence could cost many of us our careers — but that doesn’t mean we should stop its development, says journalist Megan J. McArdle. As she watches AI encroach on her own craft, she shares a fresh take on the 19th-century Luddites, who tried to destroy machines that would upend their trade. Looking back, McArdle reframes today’s fears with a poignant question: If we halt progress to protect the present, what might we be stealing from the future? After the talk, Sherrell highlights how AI might not be replacing human jobs---but creating new ones. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.