TED Conference’s annual hallmark event, TED2025, took place April 7-11 with a “Humanity Reimagined” theme—which showed itself in nearly all 88 TED Talks that proved artificial intelligence is at the forefront of this reimagined future.  

“We selected ‘Humanity Reimagined' because we're at a critical inflection point where technology, AI, and social transformation are converging to reshape what it means to be human,” Monique Ruff-Bell, TED's chief program and strategy officer, told CEN. “This theme invited our speakers and attendees to explore not just how we adapt to these changes, but how we might proactively redesign our relationship with these things and with each other.” 

It’s safe to say TED2025 did just that, serving as a stage—literally—for Google to demo its Android XR glasses made in partnership with Samsung, as well as for deep learning pioneers, robotics startup founders, and neuroscientists to “articulate hopeful, concrete visions for a future where humanity's potential is expanded, not diminished, by the challenges we face,” per Ruff-Bell.  

The event took place at the Vancouver Convention Centre (VCC) in front of more than 1,600 attendees from 55 different countries (a small dip from the 1,800 attendees who descended on Vancouver for TED2024, the event’s 40th anniversary). “We have a high retention rate, as many of our community members love coming to TED for its hope, optimism, and learning environment,” Ruff-Bell said. “We even showcased that this year through ‘3+, 5+, 10+, 20+ years at TED’ pins that many people wore proudly on their badges.” 

TED occupied roughly 500,000 of the VCC’s 1.2 million square feet, as it has since 2014. Next year, however, marks the event’s final contracted year at the VCC, after which it will return to California. “We have not shared the location yet publicly,” Ruff-Bell said of TED2027’s venue. 

The main attraction, of course, was the pop-up TED Theater, created by architect and experience designer David Rockwell using 8,000 custom pieces of Douglas Fir, giving the space a fresh, woody aroma reminiscent of gathering around a campfire—a unique juxtaposition to the on-stage, AI-heavy content. 

Perhaps the most buzzed-about session was a live conversation between Chris Anderson, the head of TED, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, which emerging-tech publication VentureBeat dubbed "the most uncomfortable—and important—AI interview of the year.” During the 47-minute conversation, which marked the final session of TED2025, Altman spoke of how OpenAI has gone from a non-profit research lab to recently closing a $40 billion funding round, valuing the ChatGPT owner at a whopping $300 billion. 

Outside of the theater, a range of new conference features took place at TED2025: 

• The launch of Camp TED, “an immersive retreat-like atmosphere where attendees crafted personalized leather keepsakes and bracelets while forging meaningful connections away from digital distractions,” Ruff-Bell explained.  
• An onsite Jukebox Diner “transported guests to a 1950s setting, serving artisanal gelato while concealing our exclusive AI Hideaway,” Ruff-Bell shared. To access the hideaway, created by TED partner PwC, guests had to whisper a “secret password” to a diner employee, at which point they were sent to "an atmosphere of discovery and serendipitous networking,” Ruff-Bell added. 
• In the spirit of TED2025’s “Humanity Reimagined” theme, the inaugural Notes to Humanity exhibition invited guests to a dark nest of greenery, where they were asked to handwrite their response to, “What does it mean to preserve your humanity in the digital age?” Ruff-Bell called the display “a powerful centerpiece, blending nature with technology to create a living archive of handwritten reflections on preserving our humanity in the digital age.” 
• TED also expanded its Dine Around program this year, where attendees were invited to “carefully selected new restaurant partners [for] intimate conversations” around the dinner table, according to Ruff-Bell. 

Returning experiences included hands-on workshops and "Discovery Sessions,” which TED bills as “in-the-field workshops, activities, and excursions.” These sessions included "intro to outdoor climbing,” “the art of stick and poke,” and “understanding psychedelics,” just to name a few. TED also facilitated Braindates onsite for attendees to organize peer-led, small group discussions on a topic of their choice. 

“The evening programming is where we truly shine,” Ruff-Bell said, pointing to TED2025’s closing party that took on a “Lost in Space” theme and, naturally, offered both a high-energy dance floor and quiet conversation corners. Ultimately, “what makes TED special is that it's truly designed to be a playground for the curious,” Ruff-Ball said. 

Images: Courtesy of Jasmina Tonic, Gilberto Tadday, and Jason Redmond for TED

Don’t miss any event-related news: Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter HERE, listen to our latest podcast HERE and engage with us on LinkedIn!