Get inspired by some of the best TED Talks of 2017

I wouldn’t have to go out on a limb and say that human beings intrinsically crave for information and inspiration. And you need not search too far and long on the internet, if inspiration is what you seek, the much-acclaimed TED Talks offers many a dollop of that and more.

The brain child of ‘TED’, tech-entertainment-design media organization the platform offers a series of talks on ‘ideas worth sharing’, which have been that were made available online since 2006.

Under the watchful eye of current curator Chris Anderson, the series has featured some of the most noted dignitaries out of the industries they represent. Those like Elon Musk, Bill Gates, James Cameron and Stephen Hawking have used the platform to put forth some of their most real and game-changing ideas and perceptions out to the people.

While a number of professionals from various fields graced the stage, and offered their insights and expertise, into the subjects at hand, we choose ten of the most wholesome and fulfilling TED TALKS that have taken place this year so far.

Elon Musk: "The future we’re building- and boring”

“It’s important to have a future that is inspiring and appealing. I just think that have to be reasons that you get up in the morning and you want to live.”

This extremely important TED Talk conducted by the Tesla CEO features first in our list, for its mention of several important social and scientific messages that are sure to impact human lives in the near future. Primarily speaking about his ongoing project - like digging tunnels under Los Angeles to ease traffic woes, as well as the recent activities carried on by both Tesla and SpaceX- Musk gave the audience hope towards a more holistic and exciting experience in the future. From relegating his ambitious fortitude to go into Mars, to suggesting the probable launch of an electric semi-truck, Musk spoke about how today’s developments should lead to a future which is safe, sustainable and productive for both the earth and the beings inhabiting it.

Bill Eckstrom: “Why comfort will ruin your life”

“What makes you comfortable can ruin you, and only in a state of discomfort can you continually grow.”

Bill Eckstrom, the President and Founder of EcSell Institute spent the first 14 years of his life in personal production and the next 13 in various sales leadership roles. As a result, he constantly routed away from the notion of a ‘comfort zone’ and always found himself with one foot outside it. In his TED talk that was held in February, he spoke about how important it is to step out of what you find comfortable- because it can not only stagnate you, it will limit you from opportunities which can change your life. He also reminded the audience that life happens for you and not just to you, so why waste all your potential into something which has no growth and doesn’t excite you? Take that leap of faith and take it now.

Shah Rukh Khan: “Thoughts on humanity, fame and love”

“I’ve learned that whatever moves you, whatever urges you to create, build, whatever keeps you from failing, whatever helps you survive, is perhaps the oldest and the simplest emotion known to mankind, and that is love.”

King Khan’s TED talk had the same impact that some of his best movies have had on the audience- it mesmerised them. Speaking about the impalpable struggles of his youth, which led him to fight his way to the spotlight, SRK was resilient on the point that whatever life throws at it. it is you who has the power to make and sport your own reality and future. He also spoke passionately about the need to be totally and unapologetically in love with yourself, before you can spread the same kind of love and energy to others. 

Garry Kasparov: “Don’t fear intelligent machines, work with them”

“We must face our fears if we want to get the most out of technology — and we must conquer those fears if we want to get the best out of humanity.”

Garry Kasaprov, one of the most noted and celebrated chess-players in the world, had lost a match to IBM’s Deep Blue Robot, twenty years ago. However, instead of being a sour loser, he accepted the defeat graciously and began to look at it in the greater scheme of things. As he stated in his TED talk, it made him fully recognize the unbridled potential of artificial intelligence and how it can be used to make our lives and futures easier. To this end, he asked the audience succumbing to the idea that the rise of AI will lead to the doom of the (professional) human kind. Instead, he urges them to treat it as an ally, which will help eradicate and significantly lessen the everyday difficulties of human life.

Tim Ferriss: “Why you should define your fears instead of your goal”

"The tool I've found which has proven to be the most reliable safety net for emotional free fall is actually the same tool that has helped me to make my best business decisions. And it is ... Stoicism."

In a recent TED talk, noted author and investor Tim Ferriss said that one of the simplest strategies to success, is to define your fear before you define your goals. This is because fear is that one indomitable, disguised and overpowering emotion, which props up on you when you least expect it and creates a roadblock for you, on your way to the finish line. Until you manage your fear, you cannot focus on your goal, according to Ferriss. As a result, he quotes three ways in which you can battle your fear and clear the path ahead of you- write down what you’re afraid of, then write down your goals and its positive impact if they are achieved, followed by the cost of inaction which refers to all that you will be missing out on if you don’t achieve your goals. This will almost certainly shake you out of inaction when it comes to managing your fears in terms of your goals, and as a result, help you achieve it even faster.

Stuart Russell- “3 principles for creating safer AI”

“I’m trying to change the definition of AI, so we have provably better machines.”

To Stuart Russell, an AI pioneer- there are three basic principles that humans have to keep in mind, in terms of the creation of AI. The first is altruism, where a robot’s main function or factor of existence stems for the benefits of the human race. The second is humility, where it cannot conjure emotions of arrogance or self-obsession, thus preventing the threat of a well-calculated take-over. And finally, robots should be created with an ability to learn, which will in turn, help human beings obtain their objective even faster. Russell’s talk can be summarised as an argument against the popular and musclaculated notion that artificial intelligence will be the end of the human race.

Jia Jiang: “What I learned from 100 days of rejection”

Jia Jing, the CEO of Wuju Learning, a company that helps organizations become fearless- spoke about how he seeked out a 100 days of rejection. He would approach strangers and ask put forth bizarre requests- like to borrow $100 for a burger refill at a restaurant, in order to desensitize himself from the pain of being rejected. This served two purposes. Not only did it help him face the fear of rejection that all entrepreneurs and people are privy to over the course of their life, it also led to him to discover that despite the absurdity of his requests, people actually came through when he least expected it. Through his experiences, he urged the audience to never be disheartened to face rejection and instead of feeling down about it, to channel its lesson into productivity and efficiency- which will help them in the long-run.