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Why the Future is Human … Plus AI | Esther Perel and Sal Khan

As AI reshapes work, school and love, what part of being human can’t a machine take over? In a wide-ranging conversation, psychotherapist Esther Perel and TED’s vision steward Sal Khan provide their unique takes on the answer. From personalized learning and AI companions to “emotional capitalism” and the rituals we create to live with uncertainty,…

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As AI reshapes work, school and love, what part of being human can’t a machine take over? In a wide-ranging conversation, psychotherapist Esther Perel and TED’s vision steward Sal Khan provide their unique takes on the answer. From personalized learning and AI companions to “emotional capitalism” and the rituals we create to live with uncertainty, the two explore if we’re getting better at living or just getting better at optimizing. (This conversation is part of “TED Intersections,” a series featuring thought-provoking conversations between experts navigating the ideas shaping our world.)

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20 Comments

  1. @dathoodieguy7121

    October 6, 2026 at 11:28 am

    In all my 30 years of life I wish society would die and we would abandon technology. I understand what we would give up but I feel like we would gain so much more.

    • @MGBranco

      October 6, 2026 at 1:01 pm

      @dathoodieguy7121 we just need to use technology At the service of the good of humanity! Easy!

    • @TheTrueDeitel

      October 6, 2026 at 2:53 pm

      @MGBranco Best I can do is in the service of a select few, while burning precious resources and creating nothing of value.

    • @MGBranco

      October 6, 2026 at 4:05 pm

      ​@TheTrueDeitelnice!

    • @user-Wojciech

      October 7, 2026 at 9:11 am

      Technology has exposed people’s true nature – many are selfish or even arseholes, they feel self-sufficient because of technology and modern logistics and think they can treat others anyhow.

  2. @justanothercommercial

    October 6, 2026 at 11:38 am

    “Disembodied” is a great way to put it

  3. @cardrivingdude

    October 6, 2026 at 11:45 am

    Love Khan Academy. TED talks are a total joke.

  4. @Jasonxbr

    October 6, 2026 at 12:18 pm

    The only thing left for humans is anarchy and the purge 😢😢😢😢😢

  5. @buttersstotch9172

    October 6, 2026 at 1:10 pm

    This particular conversation was way too short. Should have been way longer.

    • @catatonicbug7522

      October 7, 2026 at 10:54 am

      My thoughts exactly! Should have been an hour or more!

  6. @RebeccaJourney-Smith

    October 6, 2026 at 2:39 pm

    As always, excellent discussions ❤❤

  7. @321sugarbowl

    October 6, 2026 at 6:06 pm

    I’m glad that during unprecedented times, we have thinkers like Esther Perel to help humanity navigate our relationships with technology and each other.

  8. @azfarsanusi

    October 7, 2026 at 7:25 am

    praying 5 times a day at the masjid, would re-embody many people today 😅

  9. @azfarsanusi

    October 7, 2026 at 7:31 am

    Modesty and peity are great regulators of relationships and true love

  10. @oakmansam9554

    October 7, 2026 at 3:15 pm

    Esther excellent as always. 

    These tech(ish) bros know their worlds and nothing about real humans and society. It’s all about optimisation, singularity blah blah. One minute Khan is talking about the uncertainty of job losses and its effects on polarisation due to AI. The next minute he is certain we are moving from optimisation to thriving. How do you reconcile that? Shocking that this guy is in education. God help us.

  11. @SavannahMorgan-g5k

    October 7, 2026 at 6:47 pm

    In all my years of life I wish society would die and we would abandon technology. I understand what we would give up but I feel like we would gain so much more God loves you and cares for you so that this message reaches you. God is the one who created this large universe and controls it completely. The greatest loss a person loses in this life is that he lives without knowing God who created him and knowing the Messenger of Muhammad, the last of the messengers, and the Islamic religion, the last of the heavenly religions. Great intelligence, before you believe in something or not, is to read it, study it, and understand it well, and after that you have the choice to believe in it or not to believe in it. I advise you to do this now, before you no longer have time to do so. Life is very short. It is just a test, just a passage to eternal life. Great advice to those who… Understands

  12. @mariabelataborda187

    October 8, 2026 at 3:17 pm

    Esther I garantee you that I’m still alive with 68 years old and that I have a very good circle of friends and Family and I’m still curious about life and meeting new people face to face no apps . I’m bold and intense and profound and I eat well and I do pilates nas yoga and still working!!

  13. @Bythirteen

    October 8, 2026 at 6:25 pm

    lol for a psychotherapist she sure doesn’t listen well and keeps talking over him

  14. @CourtFisher-p1b

    October 9, 2026 at 5:04 pm

    Emotional Capitalism is such a great way to express the way in which love is valued right now in 2026. Many people would rather date many people and try so hard to find the perfect person who checks off all of the boxes of a wishlist for the perfect companion. Meanwhile, the true cost of that is time. Time wasted trying to find the best person rather than working on oneself and becoming a better fit for another person to be attracted to them. It’s not always one sided. I think too many women settle for the very first man who love bombs then. Then, they constantly get hurt emotionally, because they hop from one man to another without changing herself and spending time alone without another partner, and use that time to go get a life coach and or therapist to help them get better on their own.

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