Today's Trending Digest

We're building an artificial intelligence-powered dystopia, one click at a time, says techno-sociologist Zeynep Tufekci. In an eye-opening talk, Tufekci explains how the same algorithms companies like Facebook, Google and Amazon use to get you to click on ads are also used to organize your access to political and social information.

Law professor Danielle Citron discusses how AI-generated deepfakes can spread misinformation, manipulate public perception, and disrupt democratic elections by eroding trust in truth.

Fake news can sway elections, tank economies and sow discord in everyday life. Data scientist Sinan Aral demystifies how and why it spreads so quickly -- citing one of the largest studies on misinformation -- and identifies five strategies to help us unweave the tangled web between true and false.

Paddy Ashdown claims that in the modern, multipolar world, we need strong, subtle and supportive international alliances to face upcoming geopolitical challenges.

Shashi Tharoor argues that in today's world, nations should focus on soft power -- culture, values, and diplomacy -- to influence others and build bridges rather than relying on military might.

Global strategist Parag Khanna explores how connectivity and urbanization are reshaping geopolitics in a multipolar world.

What would you do if your job was to save the planet? When Christiana Figueres was tapped by the UN to lead the Paris climate conference (COP 21) in December 2015, she reacted the way many people would: she thought it would be impossible to bring the leaders of 195 countries into agreement on how to slow climate change. Find out how she turned 'impossible' into 'possible' -- and how you can, too.

In this brand-new slideshow (premiering on TED.com), Al Gore presents evidence that the pace of climate change may be even worse than scientists recently predicted. He challenges us to act.

In this passionate call to action, 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg explains why, in August 2018, she walked out of school and organized a strike to raise awareness of global warming, protesting outside Sweden's parliament and grabbing the world's attention.