The talk titled "Orwellian Media, Accountability, and Awareness" examines how modern media reflects a dystopian reality, where negativity dominates public interest and criticism is often one-sided. It delves into the psychological effects of journalism today, the illusion of closeness with public figures, and how social status can suppress critical thinking.Through the lens of Vietnamese culture, particularly the proverb “ăn cháo đá bát” (to bite the hand that feeds you), the talk explores themes of gratitude, manipulation, and power in relationships. The speaker urges the audience to remain vigilant, question what is being presented—be it assistance, truth, or media—and to reclaim their voices through humility, awareness, and responsibility.Ultimately, the message is a challenge to move beyond passive consumption and become thoughtful, accountable individuals in a world that often discourages both. Meet Tran Xuan My Linh—better known as Charly—a vibrant 17-year-old graduating senior from APU American International School, Danang city. A bold public speaker and creative media journalist, Charly has earned a reputation for being Gen Z’s walking commentary channel, unafraid to critique the Orwellian nature of the internet with sharp wit and objective insight. A regular presence at MUN conferences, school debates, and English speaking competitions, Charly has spoken passionately on issues ranging from wildlife conservation to media influence. With a dream of hosting a TED Talk since childhood, Charly is here to challenge norms, question silence, and inspire others—especially young people—to think independently, speak up boldly, and always have their own backs. Get ready to hear a voice that’s fearless, fastidious, and fiercely original. 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

CAR-T therapy is redefining what’s possible in cancer treatment by using the body’s own immune system to fight the disease. In this talk, Alaina Mupparthi explores how innovation at the intersection of technology and biology is turning the once-impossible dream of curing cancer into reality. It’s a testament to human innovation and the power of asking, 'What if?' (CREDITS: ASL Interpreter: Nicole Lupinetti; Organizing Team: Myren Bobryk-Ozaki, Ferdinand Jr Virtudes, William Li, Matthew Oley, Kenzo Colon, Melissa Xie; Editors: Bryan Agnello, Myren Bobryk-Ozaki; Lead Video Production: Bryan Agnello; Camera Operators: Chase Powers, Sophi Oliveira, Chase Roman, Julio Cruz Jr, Stacey Washington; Tech Crew: Cam Harrington, Wally Adam, Ben Jacobson, Bek Dillay, Dylan Aguirre; Crew: Mohammed Adnan, Aarushi Sharma, Igor Polotai, Gaby Blanton, Pravina Bhalerao; Designers: Zo Murray (illustration), Erick Wittmann (motion graphics); Photographer: Jack Connolly) Alaina Mupparthi is a fourth-year BS/MS computer science student at the Rochester Institute of Technology, pursuing minors in communication and entrepreneurship. Originally from Cupertino, California, Alaina is the eldest of four siblings and a passionate advocate for technology, dance, and community engagement through social impact ventures. At RIT, Alaina leads the Google Developer Student Club, championing its in-person revival and fostering a vibrant community of tech enthusiasts. She is a dedicated council-member of the Honors Council, contributing to academic excellence within the RIT student body. Alaina is also very active in the dance community, teaching salsa and bachata classes, attending workshops nationwide, and performing with the Latin Rhythm Dance Club. Driven by a passion for innovation and social impact, Alaina is committed to building a more inclusive and equitable tech landscape. 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

In Uncharted Horizons: From Loss to Legacy, Priya shares how transforming deep pain into purpose can inspire healing and lasting impact. Priya Pinto is a certified life coach, motivational speaker, author, and founder of Widow Warriors—Dubai’s first support group for widows.Her journey is one of constant reinvention. From working with global agency OgilvyOne to winning the BBC World Amateur Filmmaker Award, and writing for the acclaimed television series 24, Priya has worn many hats across industries ranging from creative startups to Nasdaq-listed corporations. But her most defining chapter began with personal loss. She is also the author of Ma, ‘will life ever be the same again?In her TEDx talk, Priya shares a raw and inspiring account of how she turned unimaginable pain into powerful purpose. She invites the audience to reflect on their own "why"—the deeper motivation that carries us through hardship and fuels transformation. 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

Disability shapes our lives, regardless of whether or not we personally experience it. From curb cuts to more inclusive labor practices, accommodations shape the way everyone interacts with the built world. Julia Resciniti will discuss how the inclusion of disabled professionals in the legal, medical, and architectural fields could promote innovation and inspire a more compassionate future. (CREDITS: ASL Interpreter: Nicole Lupinetti; Organizing Team: Myren Bobryk-Ozaki, Ferdinand Jr Virtudes, William Li, Matthew Oley, Kenzo Colon, Melissa Xie; Editors: Bryan Agnello, Myren Bobryk-Ozaki; Lead Video Production: Bryan Agnello; Camera Operators: Chase Powers, Sophi Oliveira, Chase Roman, Julio Cruz Jr, Stacey Washington; Tech Crew: Cam Harrington, Wally Adam, Ben Jacobson, Bek Dillay, Dylan Aguirre; Crew: Mohammed Adnan, Aarushi Sharma, Igor Polotai, Gaby Blanton, Pravina Bhalerao; Designers: Zo Murray (illustration), Erick Wittmann (motion graphics); Photographer: Jack Connolly) Julia Resciniti was diagnosed with moderate-severe hearing loss at three years old. Ever since, she has been passionate about disability and the disability community. She is an NTID undergraduate student pursuing disability history and hopes to pursue disability or human rights law after graduation. 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

In this insightful session, Prof. Biju Vithayathil discussed the urgent need for skilled professionals in the rapidly growing field of biotechnology, particularly genomics. He emphasized how the significant drop in genome sequencing costs has led to advancements in personalized medicine and agriculture, such as disease-resistant crops. While differentiating between Genetics (the study of individual genes) and Genomics (the study of entire gene sets and their interactions), he pointed out the shortage of trained professionals in India. Despite the abundance of engineering seats, there is a stark contrast in medical education, which often lacks key skills necessary for genomics research, such as math, statistics, and programming. Prof. Biju also highlighted global industry leaders like Thermo Fisher, Illumina, and Agilent Technologies, underscoring the growing demand in the genomics sector. To address this gap, he proposed four key goals: early exposure to genomics careers, support for training from undergraduate to graduate levels, promotion of career development and research opportunities, and tracking progress toward workforce diversity. He concluded by calling for reform in education and training to prepare future generations for the evolving genomics landscape. Prof. Biju Vithayathil, an engineer with an MBA from IIM Bangalore, is the Director of Amity Global Business School, Kochi since 2009 and Adjunct Faculty at IIM Kozhikode. He brings rich industry experience, having served as Business Head at Reliance Retail, where he established Reliance Fresh in Kerala and led training and operations. His career spans roles at Crompton Greaves, Modi Xerox, BHEL, and FACT. Recognized for his contributions to professional education, he received the Rashtra Deepika Business Excellence Award in 2014, presented by CM Shri Oommen Chandy. His work bridges industry insight with academic excellence. 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

In his thought-provoking TED Talk, Ebin Deni Raj explores the profound impact artificial intelligence (AI) is having on our lives and urges us to critically examine the kind of humanity we are embedding into machines. He begins by illustrating how AI algorithms now influence key decisions in society—ranging from job applications to social welfare—yet often in ways that are opaque and inherently biased. Ebin highlights the case of Amazon’s hiring tool, which penalized resumes with the word “women,” demonstrating how AI can amplify existing societal prejudices rather than simply reflecting human behavior.Ebin also introduces the “Clever Hans” phenomenon, where a horse was believed to solve math problems, but was actually just reacting to subtle human cues, paralleling how AI mimics intelligence without true understanding. He further delves into the dangers of unintended consequences with the "Cobra Effect," where well-intentioned solutions can backfire when the wrong metrics are prioritized, underscoring how AI systems, though powerful, can have unforeseen and harmful outcomes.Drawing from a real-world case, Ebin describes a social welfare project where identical profiles were given different results due to hidden algorithmic biases. This case illustrates the urgent need for greater transparency, fairness, and accountability in AI systems. He emphasizes that AI should not be designed passively, but actively with human values, goals, and dignity in mind.Concluding his talk, Ebin argues that to create AI that truly serves humanity, we must first understand both AI technology and ourselves—our values, flaws, and aspirations. Only through this understanding can we ensure that AI enhances, rather than diminishes, human dignity and societal well-being. Dr. Ebin Deni Raj, faculty at IIIT Kottayam, is a leading advocate for Responsible AI and founder of FACTSH Lab, which focuses on fair, safe AI for social challenges. He developed a Responsible AI Toolkit for enterprises and governments and leads global projects like one funded by the Volkswagen Foundation on explainable AI. Co-author of the ‘AI for Everyone’ booklet, he promotes AI literacy in India. His awards include Microsoft’s AI for Earth (2019) and CSI’s Best Ph.D. Thesis Award. A jury member for AI Gamechanger 2022 and Aegis Graham Bell Awards, Dr. Ebin is a global voice on AI ethics, using his TEDx talk to champion tech that serves humanity. 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