What if the most important innovation in tech isn’t faster code or smarter AI—but restoring our humanity? In a world racing to build faster, smarter technology, we must pause and ask: What makes it truly human? From AI to Web3, we’ve designed systems that optimize for efficiency—but too often at the cost of empathy, purpose, and genuine human connection. In this talk, award-winning journalist and tech storyteller Vivi Lin introduces the Soul Compass—a golden triangle of Empathy, Purpose, and Connection—as a guide for founders, innovators, and creators navigating the age of AI. You’ll discover: Why human connection is our greatest technologyHow the Soul Compass can align innovation with human well-beingPractical ways to design tech that serves people, not just marketsThis is a call to reimagine technology as a tool to strengthen the human spirit—because the future doesn’t just need artificial intelligence. It needs aligned intelligence. Vivi Lin is a former Reuters TV journalist turned tech storyteller, bridging innovation with humanity. She is the founder of VIVI Media Group and creator of the award-winning video show Vivi in the Valley (Tech with Soul Series), where she explores the intersection of AI, Web3, and purposeful design. Her mission is to champion mindful innovation—tech that serves the human spirit, not just the market. Vivi advises startups, builds platforms, and speaks globally on aligning emerging technologies with empathy, purpose, and connection—especially in times of disruption.Event: TEDxCSTU Date: May 18th, 2025 Location: California Science & Technology University (CSTU) Website: https://www.cstu.edu/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=tedx2025&utm_term=viviSpeaker: Vivi Lin Learn more about the speaker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivi-lin-1862276/ https://vivi.media/en/press/ Speaker’s channel: https://www.youtube.com/@viviinthevalleyOrganizer: Leni Jin, Organizer of TEDxCSTU Behind the scenes of TEDxCSTU: Stories & notes: https://lenijin.com/tedx More about the organizer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenijin/ Organizer's channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Leni_JinTimestamps (Chapters) 0:00 – Introduction: Why Tech Needs a Soul 0:58 – The loneliness epidemic in a hyper-connected world 2:30 – How technology measures engagement but not intimacy 4:05 – What real connection means (and why it matters) 5:50 – Examples of tech fostering belonging 7:20 – The Golden Triangle: Empathy, Purpose, Connection 9:10 – How founders can design with soul 10:45 – The Soul Compass: Questions to guide innovation 12:05 – A call to build tech for humans, not just systemsPlease note: This talk was recorded at TEDxCSTU, an independently organized TEDx event hosted at California Science and Technology University under a license from TED. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent those of TEDxCSTU, the university, or TED.#TEDxCSTU2025 #TechWithSoul #SoulCompass #AIForHumanity #HumanCenteredTech #InnovationWithPurpose #EmpathyInAction #MindfulTech #PurposeDrivenLife #FutureOfHumanity #DigitalWellbeing #ViviLin Vivi Lin is a former Reuters TV journalist turned tech storyteller, bridging innovation with humanity. She is the founder of VIVI Media Group and creator of Vivi in the Valley (Tech with Soul Series), where she explores the intersection of AI, Web3, and purposeful design. Her mission is to champion mindful innovation—tech that serves the human spirit, not just the market. Vivi advises startups, builds platforms, and speaks globally on aligning emerging technologies with empathy, purpose, and connection—especially in times of disruption. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx