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Would you hand over control of your life to an algorithm? #TEDTalks

What if everything in your life was randomized: from the food you ate to the things you did and the places you traveled? Computer scientist Max Hawkins created algorithms to make decisions like these for him — and got hooked on the experience for two years. He shares how relinquishing choice sent him across the…

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What if everything in your life was randomized: from the food you ate to the things you did and the places you traveled? Computer scientist Max Hawkins created algorithms to make decisions like these for him — and got hooked on the experience for two years. He shares how relinquishing choice sent him across the world and opened him up to the beautiful complexity and richness of life. It makes you wonder: What lies just outside your comfort zone?

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38 Comments

38 Comments

  1. @PlaystationBaby2001

    July 12, 2025 at 10:07 am

    Freer is not a word “more free” is how it should be said. No hate just saying. But also i would do this if i knew the app. Do you know the app?

    • @tqdinh2

      July 12, 2025 at 10:42 am

      It’s a machine 😅

    • @muzzybeat

      July 12, 2025 at 12:42 pm

      Upvote to your first sentence. Downvote override to the rest.

    • @l01230123

      July 13, 2025 at 6:50 am

      Well, now I’m using “freer” exclusively. You can’t stop my truthiness! 😂

      It’s fun messing with people who gatekeep language as if that’s intelligence, they’re ironically so silly. 😅

  2. @Mayla_boo

    July 12, 2025 at 10:08 am

    Absolutely I would.

  3. @robertwinfieldstabler7697

    July 12, 2025 at 10:12 am

    AI is going to control the government at the military in about 10 years or less anyway.

    • @tqdinh2

      July 12, 2025 at 10:47 am

      AI is pure stupid causing nuclear winter 😅

  4. @susanaolguin4856

    July 12, 2025 at 10:12 am

    Definitely not. The one thing that we truly have is free will. Giving over that part of our lives leaves us with nothing. Whether our decisions are right or wrong is part of the responsibility for our lives, maturing, becoming. It may be easier for someone or something to make decisions for us, but that is NOT FREEDOM. It’s immature and frankly, irresponsible. Terrible that it may be thought as freedom.

    • @BonafideDG

      July 12, 2025 at 11:23 am

      Some people just want to use their brain for other things than figuring out the practicalities of life. Though i acknowledge you are right about the danger of outsourcing life decisions. Maybe this is just some promo to get us used to letting AI rule over us.

    • @wittywiz

      July 13, 2025 at 11:15 am

      @@BonafideDG That’s EXACTLY what it is…

  5. @petermccavington8232

    July 12, 2025 at 10:15 am

    Tedx never comes to nyc 😢😢😢

  6. @grawman67

    July 12, 2025 at 10:17 am

    No. Why would I?

  7. @charlielynn3674

    July 12, 2025 at 10:19 am

    Why would anyone give away their brain to allow someone/something else take over the wheel of your life. No it doesn’t interest me to become part of technology.

  8. @TheLitera

    July 12, 2025 at 10:24 am

    What about just saying “yes” to opportunities which come to your life? I do that, I trust the process and flow. I don’t need an app for that

    • @tqdinh2

      July 12, 2025 at 10:45 am

      App controlling you is stupid 😅

  9. @andreasbrey6277

    July 12, 2025 at 10:31 am

    Well, my boss tells me what to do between 9 to 5 and the other times my GF and mother in law. So where exactly comes the other-directed aspect into life that is “ART”?!

    • @tqdinh2

      July 12, 2025 at 10:44 am

      Work and family is different 😅

  10. @average_peanut_fan3059

    July 12, 2025 at 10:31 am

    You will eat the bugs, you will live in the pod. You will own nothing, and you will be happy.

  11. @PapaBearGamiing

    July 12, 2025 at 10:38 am

    It’s crazy to think that someone would give up control to your life to a app but I wonder would they give control of their life to God? There is truth in giving up control gives you freedom but only Jesus can give you true peace and freedom. He is the way the truth and the life.

    • @tqdinh2

      July 12, 2025 at 10:41 am

      Yes

    • @muzzybeat

      July 12, 2025 at 12:43 pm

      Santa Claus is the true savior. Make sure and download his guidebook on naughtiness and niceness.

    • @robertwinfieldstabler7697

      July 12, 2025 at 2:54 pm

      I wouldn’t give up my life to either. I’m not gonna let an app tell me what to do, and I am not going to let some 5000-2000 year-old authors tell me what to do.

    • @PapaBearGamiing

      July 12, 2025 at 3:06 pm

      That is your choice. I’d implore you not to make that mistake because Jesus died for everyone and if you chose to take his gift you will inherit eternal life but respect your choice.

    • @wittywiz

      July 13, 2025 at 11:16 am

      You’re off on the name & title but your message is on-point.

  12. @tqdinh2

    July 12, 2025 at 10:40 am

    Would you hand over control of your life to God🫰

  13. @richarddunn164

    July 12, 2025 at 11:04 am

    Yerp, sign me up 😂 efficiency and intel

  14. @LupusMobile

    July 12, 2025 at 11:17 am

    Sorry to break it to you, your life is already a collection of algorithms.

    • @charlielynn3674

      July 12, 2025 at 12:57 pm

      Right!

  15. @Mazda626gtturbo

    July 12, 2025 at 11:19 am

    Under the current regime the AI will be running our life.

  16. @ujwal218

    July 12, 2025 at 1:43 pm

    Bro needed good parenting and the Indian style of education 😂

  17. @paulwilson8672

    July 12, 2025 at 2:14 pm

    I would look at them as suggestions. I like the idea of breaking your comfort zone. You need that to grow.

  18. @AD-jq7ow

    July 12, 2025 at 3:41 pm

    Maybe I should start making my own décisions for once…

  19. @KenMaerran

    July 12, 2025 at 4:29 pm

    Or, just realize you tend to want to stay in a safe place and maintain life inertia. Take a step back and try something new. Expand your horizons so you can realize there’s more to the world than the BS you’re being fed by limited sources of information.

  20. @felixuy4521

    July 13, 2025 at 12:25 am

    Nahhh😂

  21. @dear-future-ai

    July 13, 2025 at 1:49 am

    I do it the old fashioned way, by defying authority in all forms like God intended.

  22. @Mistah_Green

    July 14, 2025 at 9:12 am

    I already let an algorithm decide what music I listen to: SoundCloud weekly mix. I also get lots of food recommendations from the YouTube algorithm, but yeah I mostly just decide these things on how I’m feeling at that particular moment. I would try it if I were rich/retired and bored.

  23. @МаріяЗапотічна-ч4о

    July 15, 2025 at 3:44 am

    No

  24. @Merope4ever

    July 15, 2025 at 7:56 am

    This sounds like a BDSM question to me, because in the total power exchange type of relationship you also completely give up on making your own choices and let somebody else make them for you. And if you really like to live like that, it can make you feel free.

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