Freddy Reiber examines how modern technologies, from workplace surveillance to gig platforms, are reshaping the labor movement. Drawing connections between the workers of the 19th century & today, he shows how digital systems can limit solidarity while also offering a vision for worker-centered innovation. His talk encourages us to rethink technology as a tool for empowerment instead of control. Freddy Reiber is a third-year Ph.D. student in the Computing & Data Science program at Boston University, advised by the fantastic Dr. Allison McDonald. His research centers on the intersections of labor and technology with a particular focus on how organized labor responds to rapid technological change. He investigates systemic barriers that prevent labor organizations from effectively leveraging technology and explores how tech-facilitated work can contribute to the marginalization of workers. Freddy’s broader academic interests lie in second-order questions surrounding the dynamics of technology and power, examining who technology benefits and how. He prioritizes human-driven, qualitative methods to gain deeper insights into these issues. Additionally, Freddy has engaged in research within the political economy of technology and computer science education, enriching his interdisciplinary approach. 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

Define what it means to be happy and how to achieve it. Year 6 student at YCIS, Chongqing, China. 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

Mikael Petrosyan explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping the way we make personal and professional decisions. Blending reflections from his own journey with insights from decision science, he shows how AI can enhance our thinking without replacing the human voice at the center of it. His talk is a call to use technology wisely while staying grounded in curiosity, values, and self-awareness. Mikael has over fifteen years of international experience spanning the pharmaceutical industry and strategic consulting. In his leadership roles, Mikael led the commercialization of new therapies across Europe, bringing high-quality medicines to millions. As a consultant, he advised top twenty biopharma companies on global drug development and launch strategies. Mikael has been recognized for his innovation and impact, receiving a Platinum Award for best cardiology launch and was named Best Head of Area for fostering a culture of excellence. Today, he continues to bridge strategy, data, and human insight to help companies make better decisions in an AI-enabled world. He also serves as an MIT Educational Counselor supporting undergraduate admissions, and actively mentors startups as a judge and advisor with MassChallenge, Nucleate, MassInnovation, and MIT programs. Mikael is deeply passionate about helping the next generation navigate decisions with purpose, curiosity, and confidence. 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

Levon Gyulkhasyan shares how teaching comics in jail became a mutual learning experience that transforms both his students and his own artistic approach. Through a creative process shaped by real-world constraints, incarcerated individuals gain tools for self-expression, emotional growth, and self-worth. The talk explores how art, adapted to the prison environment, becomes a vehicle for rehabilitation and meaningful storytelling. A member of the Boston Comics Roundtable, Actual Art Armenia, and APBDA France, Levon holds a Ph.D. in engineering and is certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP). He is a teacher and illustrator at the Russian School of Mathematics, where he blends education with visual storytelling. He is the creator of Jumbo Loop Comics; 90-foot, ring-shaped comic strips designed for public installation. These large-scale works have been exhibited outdoors in Yerevan, Gyumri, and Angoulême, engaging diverse audiences through immersive art. At Lesley University’s Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo (MICE), he led a 5-year interactive project where visitors were invited to draw on massive comic strips, collaboratively shaping evolving narratives. Levon also conducts weekly “constraint comics” workshops in Yerevan and Cambridge, MA, exploring experimental storytelling through creative limitations. He is the author of three graphic novels and numerous comic stories featured in anthologies. 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

Lingyi Xu shares how AI is being developed to help doctors detect lung cancer and brain diseases earlier, especially in under-resourced communities. Drawing from her own journey from business student to health-focused researcher, she explains how AI tools can act as co-pilots for physicians, turning scattered data into life-saving insight. Her talk shows how technology, when thoughtfully built, becomes a tool for equity and care in the places that need it most. Lingyi Xu is a PhD student in Computing & Data Sciences at Boston University, where she uses artificial intelligence to tackle real-world healthcare challenges, like catching lung cancer early and helping researchers understand brain diseases better. She started out in finance coding stock models, but during the COVID- 19 pandemic, she saw firsthand how delayed diagnoses affected real people. That experience, combined with a growing interest in AI and health, led her to change direction. 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

Problems with overthinking and how to solve it. Year 5 student at YCIS, Chongqing, China. 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