Climate change doesn’t just melt ice caps, it also fuels conflict, corruption and division worldwide, explains TED Fellow and journalist Peter Schwartzstein. From droughts in Syria to rising seas in Bangladesh, he explores how climate stress escalates existing social instabilities — and underscores why every effort to curb a warming world matters, no matter how small.

A nightmare scenario happened to politician Cara Hunter: just weeks before her election, she became the victim of a deepfake scam that threatened to upend her life and career. In a fearless talk, she explores AI’s potential to undermine truth and democracy — and offers a path forward to harness this powerful technology as a force for good. (This talk contains mature language.)

Afghan activist Nila Ibrahimi shares her experience using song to protest — and ultimately reverse — oppressive laws in Afghanistan just before the Taliban took back control of the country. In a brief Q&A with Head of TED Chris Anderson, Ibrahimi sends a powerful message about the strength of girls’ voices, both in Afghanistan and around the world.

Lily Yeh calls herself a barefoot artist: she travels the world with a suitcase full of art supplies, working with whoever wants to join her. In an inspiring talk, she shares the fruits of her collaborative art projects that bring color, community and beauty to public spaces often seen as “broken.”

How do we protect ourselves from being misled online? Counter-terrorism expert Vidhya Ramalingam reveals how disinformation is being weaponized to justify violence — increasingly against climate scientists — and introduces a powerful tool called “prebunking”: a proactive approach that empowers people to recognize and reject manipulative messages before they take root.