Science & Technology

TED Is 40 — Here’s How It All Started | Chris Anderson and Richard Saul Wurman | TED

To celebrate TED’s 40th anniversary, Head of TED Chris Anderson and TED’s founder Richard Saul Wurman reflect on the conference’s transformative journey — from its inception as a daring experiment blending technology, entertainment and design to its expansion into a global platform for world-changing ideas. Get a glimpse into the minds behind a movement that…

Published

on

To celebrate TED’s 40th anniversary, Head of TED Chris Anderson and TED’s founder Richard Saul Wurman reflect on the conference’s transformative journey — from its inception as a daring experiment blending technology, entertainment and design to its expansion into a global platform for world-changing ideas. Get a glimpse into the minds behind a movement that has sparked innovation, redefined the art of storytelling and fostered community worldwide in a conversation brimming with unheard anecdotes, wisdom and the spirit of curiosity.

This conversation was part of a TED Membership event. Visit to access exclusive benefits by becoming a TED Member today.

Follow TED!
X:
Instagram:
Facebook:
LinkedIn:
TikTok:

The TED Talks channel features talks, performances and original series from the world’s leading thinkers and doers. Subscribe to our channel for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more.

Watch more:

TED’s videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy: . For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at

#TED #TEDTalks

32 Comments

  1. @MagmaleV

    February 26, 2024 at 7:12 am

    TED is a good thing, happy anniversary!

  2. @RoseArya1

    February 26, 2024 at 7:14 am

    “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” Very Hearty congratulations to 40 years of TED. To all the knowledge, awareness and light you provided has helped me in shaping myself. I hope you all make many more achievements.
    P.S. I dream to work for you TED someday soon

  3. @sunethra85

    February 26, 2024 at 7:23 am

    Great achievement dear TED

  4. @zakw4540

    February 26, 2024 at 7:36 am

    When are you to continue the ecomodernist propoganda?

  5. @XKLJz

    February 26, 2024 at 7:43 am

  6. @aweshock_1

    February 26, 2024 at 7:50 am

    Anyone here to improve ielts listening skill?

  7. @gifty2997

    February 26, 2024 at 8:00 am

    Happy Anniversary! I love TED

  8. @user-sd3xj2dd5k

    February 26, 2024 at 8:09 am

    happy 40th birthday TED, thank you!

  9. @r2stik

    February 26, 2024 at 8:09 am

    curiosity. you loosing interest – you same as dead. desire to know 🙂

  10. @jonathanedwardgibson

    February 26, 2024 at 8:51 am

    I was designer for Abel’s Guernica Project team for our interactive art education demo running at Monterey.
    Been interesting to watch this from it’s beginnings, brave and bold, spanking with newness, now transformed into today’s staid mouthpiece as official biz-science status where the newly-minted ‘xecs march on their rite-of-passage pilgrimage genuflecting elevator-pitches.
    Live long enough and you become your own nemesis, heh?

    Our industry is so frozen it’s petrified by shitification. Rather hear about how this event might be re-imagined under today’s conditions, than walk down nostalgia rambles. I am sure my old co-workers think I speak ungrateful blasphemy. The world is mocking Big Tech anymore. Rightly.

    • @jonathanedwardgibson

      February 26, 2024 at 8:57 am

      Animal Acts are for the After Party

  11. @manp1039

    February 26, 2024 at 9:06 am

    i never have been able to physically go to a TED but was able to go to a Shadow TED when TED was in Long Beach. And it was amazing. and a few TED speakers showed up at it and I was able to speak to them

    • @ronoldcross8189

      February 26, 2024 at 11:46 am

      As one of the multitude who will not be on a TED stage, who’s story may or may not be of significant interest for the TED audience, who will not even be able to attend a live TED talk, I thank you for creating, developing, and continuing TED.

  12. @aldovalkovich755

    February 26, 2024 at 9:15 am

    TED is always engaging, in every area and is now my regular event.😊👏👏👏

  13. @Justice4Palestine

    February 26, 2024 at 9:23 am

    Invite a Palestinian to speak about the genocide being committed in Gaza as we speak. Free Palestine 🇵🇸

  14. @j-ll.kjean-louiskayitenkore

    February 26, 2024 at 9:41 am

    Happy and blessed 40th anniversary Dear TED ❤
    It’s about time TED get tropical with an African Branch focusing on Oral History and Wisdom sharing. XoXo. J-L K

  15. @khireyaalkiani638

    February 26, 2024 at 9:53 am

    Yahoo❤

  16. @user-he7ep2lq5x

    February 26, 2024 at 10:15 am

    Happy anniversary

  17. @Dr.Bas_ackwards

    February 26, 2024 at 11:51 am

    Don’t forget about us perpendicular people

  18. @zeljkotomic4517

    February 26, 2024 at 12:32 pm

    Срећан (srećan – happy)
    Рођендан (rođendan – birthday), be happy and prosper 🖖

  19. @franciscojose6496

    February 26, 2024 at 12:45 pm

    Congratulations for this fantastic day

  20. @LuisMontemayor

    February 26, 2024 at 12:47 pm

    Great interview! Happy Anniversary!

  21. @MrPelikan500

    February 26, 2024 at 1:01 pm

    TED changed my life in so many ways … some of the best education came from here … thank you all the TED Team

    3:15 …” i learnt to listen … and i see and visualise patterns between things …”

    would have loved to hear richard talk more about this … his pattern recognition skill …

    i am interested in systemic thinkers …. how they see things in detail and yet at the same time the whole picture …

    the ability to be both in it and see above it all …
    .

  22. @terrihasstedt5855

    February 26, 2024 at 1:27 pm

    And now I know what TED is, wild, Technology, Entertainment and Design.

  23. @JOXBEN

    February 26, 2024 at 1:31 pm

    An extraordinary human being !

  24. @theodorevegh6030

    February 26, 2024 at 5:38 pm

    “TED” could also stand for “Thoughts, Emotions and Deeds.” These are the three things that everyone wants to improve in their lives. Maybe we could change the meaning of “TED” to be “Thoughts, Emotions and Deeds.” – Theodore Alexander Vegh ❤️🇺🇸🌎

  25. @MarcoTheOnlyPolo

    February 26, 2024 at 8:09 pm

    Happy 40 years TED!!! So many stories, so much inspiration. We’re glad to have you all.

  26. @lawwlitt

    February 27, 2024 at 2:56 am

    Many congratulations!!!🎉

  27. @RocChen-wd4de

    February 27, 2024 at 4:44 am

    常青树

  28. @dehbrar

    February 27, 2024 at 7:48 am

    Cheers to 40 TEDX🥂

  29. @chotewin2434

    February 27, 2024 at 7:58 am

    Happy anniversary, TED!🎉

  30. @foxfiregal

    February 27, 2024 at 9:04 pm

    Richard giving big gemini ♊ energy

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Trending

Exit mobile version