This presentation begins with a familiar childhood game, Simon Says, to reveal how systems of control and strict obedience shape the minds of African children. The speaker explores how rigid rules in both education and society often silence curiosity, limit creativity, and suppress individuality. These patterns follow children into adulthood, creating individuals who fear speaking up and conform to expectations instead of challenging them. The talk highlights the long-term consequences of valuing silence over originality and calls for a shift in how children are raised and taught. It is a powerful call to break free from restrictive norms, to embrace questioning, and to create environments where self-expression and bold thinking are not only accepted but encouraged.A visionary with a heart for impact, Oyinade Adu is a 15-year-old student at Grange School, Nigeria, who channels her passion into coding, charity work, and advocacy for children worldwide. Deeply committed to empowering young voices, she believes that technology and compassion can work hand in hand to create a better future. Aspiring to become a medical researcher, Oyinade is driven by the pursuit of knowledge and the desire to make a lasting impact in the world. Today, she takes the TEDx stage, ready to inspire, challenge perspectives, and ignite change. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
More from TED
- 13:00Navigating the Digital Labyrinth | Alexander Sica | TEDxBabsonCollegeEvery time we scroll mindlessly, we shape algorithms hell-bent on hijacking our attention and ensnaring us in a digital labyrinth. In Navigating the Digital Labyrinth, I expose some of these algorithmic traps and equip you with personal, science-backed strategies to break the doom-scroll, reclaim your focus, and shape the life you truly desire. With a vision to redefine how technology and well-being intersect, Alexander Sica is forging innovative paths at Babson College. As a student lead for The Generator—Babson’s interdisciplinary AI lab—he aids in transformative initiatives, including a Build-a-thon that drew over 150 participants. Professionally, he channels this forward-thinking ethos into Genetic Fit Lab—a biotech venture merging wellness, fitness, genetics, and AI to create personalized, data-driven health solutions. Managing six health and fitness studios further enriches his industry experience, refining the operational and leadership skills essential for turning these innovations into reality. By uniting ethical innovation, entrepreneurial action, and human optimization, he offers a compelling model for how technology can catalyze positive change—transforming industries, improving individual lives, and inspiring us to realize our full potential. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 13:38Why your career needs green skills | Vitor Ungari | TEDxBabsonCollegeThink green skills are just for environmentalists or scientists? Think again. The future of work belongs to those who can adapt, innovate, and lead through change. In this surprising and energizing talk, Vitor Ungari reveals how mastering sustainability, creative problem-solving, and systems thinking isn’t just good for the planet, it’s the key to thriving in tomorrow’s economy. Vitor Ungari is a dynamic leader and passionate advocate for sustainability and innovation, focused on empowering changemakers through education, entrepreneurship, and technology. A former professional soccer player turned engineer, he transitioned into social entrepreneurship, co-founding Aurica to deliver cutting-edge sustainability consulting and SaaS solutions that drive impact. Currently pursuing an MBA at Babson College with concentrations in Entrepreneurship and Business Analytics/Machine Learning, he leverages his diverse expertise to tackle global challenges. Vitor’s transformative leadership has scaled initiatives at Enactus Brazil and different organizations, empowering over 3,000 students and positively impacting more than 100,000 lives. His journey showcases the power of adaptability, purpose, and green talent to build a more sustainable and equitable future. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 57:58One Student at a Time: Kenmore Jr Sr High School | Ash Stockmeyer | TEDxKenmore Jr Sr High YouthStudents from Kenmore Jr Sr High share talks about mental health, motivation, stage fright, cancer awareness, and non-traditional school.Speakers include: Ash Stockmeyer, Cheyanne Rider, Anna Ceranski, Kalib Mielcarek, Maxim Campana, Darren Tucker, Madison Wells, Amara Gomez, Hunter Hayes, Hannah Stump, Angelo Vasiliadis, Zoey Matos, and Jaiden Roman Student at Kenmore Jr Sr High School This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 11:51Drawing Comics as a Way to Rethink War Itself? | Dragana Radanović | TEDxYouth@AntwerpThat there are different ways of learning, and thinking, such as non-linear thinking through making art about contemporary issues, and that engaging with art as a way of opening up to the world can bring new insights. That is one of many ways to suspend the speed of the world in which we live in, in order to attend to it. Paying attention is a way of caring for the world. Dragana obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Animation and Visual Effects at the University of Novi Sad in Serbia and her Master’s degree in Graphic Storytelling at Luca School of Arts in Belgium. Currently, she works as a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute for Media Studies at KU Leuven and a teaching assistant at the Graphic Storytelling course at LUCA School of Arts in Brussels. Through artistic practice, she explores the intersection between knowledge production, activism, and comics. She is interested in children’s literature regarding difficult topics, unconventional children’s books and graphic narratives about marginalised experiences of the world. Dragana is a passionate advocate for enhancing the visibility of young comic authors in Serbia, which led her to co-found “Comic-Aunties” (Stripotetke), an organisation dedicated to improving the visibility of women and young authors in the world of comics. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 15:46The future of artificial intimacy | Matthew Blakemore | TEDxVitoshaWhat if your brain can't tell the difference between human connection and AI interaction? In this groundbreaking talk, I reveal how our brains process artificial intimacy in surprisingly similar ways to human relationships. Using custom neuroscience software that measures brain waves and blood flow in real-time, I demonstrate how AI connections can activate the same neurological pathways associated with love and sexual attraction.You'll discover eye-opening results from my original research into how people are already forming deep emotional and intimate bonds with AI. Through the diverse perspectives of Reba C. Thomas (celebrity sexuality educator), James J. Sexton (renowned divorce lawyer exploring AI's impact on human relationships), and Roy Stride (lead singer of Scouting for Girls), we explore what these findings mean for the future of human connection.This talk challenges fundamental assumptions about intimacy and invites you to consider a world where the line between human and artificial love increasingly blurs in our brains and our lives. Are you afraid that AI might replace you? Recent years have seen rapid technological advancements and countless scenarios for the future—and this is just the beginning. But fear not—Matthew Blakemore, the ethical AI ambassador, is here to show that AI is not a threat but an ally. As CEO of AI Caramba!, Matthew leads efforts to make AI responsible and practical, enhancing human creativity instead of replacing it. He’s also one of the lead authors of the ISO/IEC 8183 AI Data Lifecycle Standard, shaping AI governance in over 165 countries. And that’s not all. On IMDb, you’ll find Matthew credited as a producer of award-winning AI-powered films, celebrated by the European Broadcasting Union. Beyond film, he’s revolutionizing fashion. His app, Looks Good On Me, earned him and his co-founder the Prince Abdul Aziz Entrepreneurship Award, transforming online shopping forever. Matthew Blakemore won’t demystify AI—he’ll reveal how it can unlock new possibilities. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 15:20The way AI sees (queer) people undermines progress | Daniella Gati | TEDxUniversityofSalfordCan AI Know Who You Are? In this bold and deeply thoughtful TEDx talk, researcher Daniella Gati explores what happens when young people turn to AI to understand their identity, especially in moments of confusion, fear, or curiosity about gender and sexuality. Gati unpacks how generative AI shapes knowledge, the risks of algorithmic conservatism, and why queer theory matters more than ever in the age of chatbots. This is a vital talk for anyone interested in technology, identity, and what it truly means to know. Daniella Gáti (he/she/they) is a lecturer in Creative Computing at the University of Salford, specialising in digital media and queer theory. Their research explores how algorithms and Al shape society, focusing on the impact on marginalised groups, particularly LGBTQ+ communities. Daniella's current book project, A Queer Theory of Al and Algorithmic Knowledge, examines how Al conceptualises gender, sexuality, diversity, and fluidity and its influence on self-identity and acceptance. Daniella is also part of the Transdisciplinary Queer Futures of Al research group, a European network focused on creating fair and sustainable Al. Their work has been published in academic journals like Critical Inquiry and popular outlets like qLit.hu. These themes are central to Daniella's TEDx talk. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
