ZERO WORLD: How AI Can Eliminate Humanity's Greatest Challenges | Shalini Gopalkrishnan | TEDxCSTU
Drawing from her experience at the forefront of AI, ethics, and innovation, Dr. Shalini outlines a practical yet radical roadmap to Zero World. Her talk blends systems thinking, emerging technologies, and deep human empathy to challenge us to move beyond crisis management and toward intentional redesign. Whether addressing AI governance, healthtech, poverty eradication, or economic inclusion, she offers a blueprint for how technology, policy, and people can converge to solve our deepest challenges—not someday, but now.
As a global educator, technologist, and visionary, Dr. Gopalkrishnan’s work sits at the intersection of AI and exponential impact. Her framework has inspired leaders from Silicon Valley to South Asia, from academic institutions to international development forums. This talk is more than an idea—it’s a call to action.As a professor, entrepreneur, and AI strategist, Dr. Shalini Gopalkrishnan works across universities and industries to ensure AI benefits humanity. She has taught AI and exponential technologies at multiple global universities, including in the U.S., South America, and India. Dr. Shalini is also a serial entrepreneur, having built companies in the edtech and emerging tech space, and advises startups, and international organizations on ethical and responsible AI deployment.
She holds a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA), and an MBA. As a speaker, she has addressed audiences at several Universities, United Nations panels, and AI summits. She is also the founder of multiple initiatives aimed at leveraging technology for global good, with a particular focus on sustainable development goals (SDGs) and inclusion.
Her latest research and community work advocate for Zero World—a future framework based on dignity, abundance, and systemic transformation, where AI becomes a liberatory force instead of a disruptive threat.
Dr. Gopalkrishnan's TEDx talk challenges us to radically rethink what is possible when humanity and technology evolve together.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=ShaliniSpeaker: Shalini Gopalkrishnan
Learn more about the speaker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shalini-gopalkrishnan-b8488a14/Organizer: 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_JinChapters (Timestamps):
00:27 Introduction: Idea of zero world
01:47 AI is being used to combat world hunger
02:49 AI's role in the medical field
04:23 AI can help eliminate poverty.
05:18 f AI in predicting and preventing wars.
06:32 three things you can do to help bring about a "zero world":Please 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.#TEDx #ZeroWorld #FutureOfAI #TechForGood #EthicalAI #AIForHumanity #SustainableFuture #InclusionThroughAI #ExponentialImpact #SystemsThinking #GlobalGood #TEDxCSTU2025 Dr. Shalini is the CSTU - California Science and Technology University Professor, a consummate traveller to all continents and over 100 countries, Speaker, author, researcher, serial entrepreneur in technology, leadership, and social impact 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
More from TED
- 18:28The power of micro resilience | Kaleb Dahlgren | TEDxReginaIn this powerful TEDx talk, Kaleb shares his story of recovery following the devastating The Humboldt Broncos bus crash is a story that captured hearts across Canada. But this isn’t just a survival story. It’s about how small acts, daily habits, and seemingly minor choices can lead to massive healing. Kaleb Dahlgren is a Canadian gem. He is an inspiring community leader, mental wellness advocate, and survivor. Kaleb has an inexplicable ability to connect with any audience as he invites them to revisit the challenges of his past and share the valuable lessons he has learned from them. From a young age, Kaleb has been forced to be resilient.His hockey career was threatened before it started with a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes at four years old. Yet Kaleb proved his doctors and coaches wrong by going on to play hockey at an elite level. During his career, he played for the Humboldt Broncos, a team that made national news when their bus collided with a transport truck.He is the National Ambassador for two non-profit organizations and the founder of his own, Dahlgren’s Diabeauties - a mentorship program developed to help connect children with Type 1 diabetes to role models that can help provide guidance and support. 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
- 12:17Unfiltered & Unmasked: The Journey to True Belonging | Amy Price | TEDxEagle YouthUnfiltered & Unmasked: The Journey to True Belonging" by Amy Price explores the power of authenticity and vulnerability in a world that often pressures us to hide behind masks. Through personal stories and insights, Amy invites audiences to shed perfection, embrace their true selves, and discover deeper connection and belonging. Amy Price is a native of southeast Idaho, and has lived in three other states. She is married and has a three-year-old son. Holding a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in secondary education, along with advanced graduate coursework in psychology, her teaching career now spans middle school, high school, and community college. She has taught psychology and IB sociocultural anthropology and is currently a teacher in the West Ada school district. She also serve as a co-advisor for her school’s National Honor Society.With 17 years of experience as an educator, she is passionate about fostering belonging and authentic identity in the classroom; she intentionally works to create learning environments where every student feels recognized, valued, and empowered to bring their full selves to the classroom. Through her work, she inspires others to embrace authenticity and build communities where everyone can thrive. 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
- 9:50Wired Brains: the Potential of the Brain Chip Interface | Varsha Amirthraj | TEDxBrushy Creek YouthWhat if sending a text was as simple as thinking it? This talk by Varsha Amirthraj explores the world of Brain-Chip Interfaces (BCI)—from today’s breakthroughs helping people with paralysis speak and move prosthetics, to future possibilities like thought-to-thought communication. Blending real-world applications, cutting-edge research, and big questions about accessibility and ethics, Varsha Amirthraj reveals how BCI could reshape the way we live, connect, and imagine the future. Varsha Amirthraj is a 15-year-old student from Round Rock High school who aspires to go into the engineering field. Inspired by the ways that technology can benefit people across the world, she decided to make a speech to inform people of the power of BCI. She loves combining theoretical knowledge with creativity to produce new and inspiring ideas. Along with her passion for math and the sciences, Varsha enjoys playing guitar, drawing, reading, and going on hikes. 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
- 6:48Art Brings Calm | Durga Sahil Thota | TEDxBrushy Creek YouthIn a world consumed by screens, two teens discovered that a simple pencil and paper could be more powerful than endless scrolling. Through drawing, calligraphy, and creative outlets, they found calm, confidence, and community—and launched Digital Detoxopedia to help others reclaim balance. This talk by Durga Sahil Thota blends personal stories with research to reveal how small creative pauses can counter screen addiction and restore well-being. Durga Sahil Thota, a young artist with a deep love for drawing, discovered that creating art brought him a sense of peace and calm. He began to see drawing as a mindful alternative to the endless scrolling that filled much of his time. Through this quiet practice, Sahil changed the way he viewed art: not just as a product, but as a calming process. 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
- 5:50Eyes in the Sky: How UAVs are Shaping Our Future | Arjun Siddhaiyan | TEDxBrushy Creek YouthOnce seen as toys, drones are now powerful tools tackling some of the world’s biggest challenges—from boosting farm productivity and fighting climate change to delivering aid in disaster zones. Drawing on research, conversations with farmers, and real-world examples, this talk by Arjun Siddhaiyan explores how UAVs are transforming agriculture, sustainability, and emergency response—and why the buzzing in the sky is more than just play. Arjun Siddhaiyan is a 14-year-old public speaker and technology enthusiast attending Round Rock High School. With two years of experience flying drones, Arjun’s passion for agricultural technology has earned him Public Speaking Champion in Ag Tech at the State Fair of Texas. He has also shared his insights at countless other rodeos and fairs in Texas, like the Houston Livestock and Show Rodeo, where he won $300. Outside of speaking, Arjun enjoys basketball, football, photography, and spending time with friends. 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
- 18:40四蛤?人生! | Chuan-Lee Chu | TEDxNanshan High School35 歲的曲全立導演,曾面臨腦瘤威脅,只剩下半年的生命,在經歷手術後奇蹟般重獲新生,隨著後腦多了條長長的疤,伴隨著半聾半失明的後遺症。上天給他的第二次生命,點燃了他心中更大的使命感:「我的作品,能帶給台灣什麼力量?」讓他回到影像創作者的初衷,拍一部片,如何去幫助更多的孩子,影響更多的人。 2013年,曲導獲得有3D奧斯卡之稱的世界3D大獎,與李安導演同台獲獎。並接連獲得金鐘獎等大獎,他毅然選擇放下獎盃,走入偏鄉,賣房打造全亞洲首部3D行動電影院。在2020 年,曲導踏上尋找台灣超人的旅程。他走遍各地,走進這些超人的生活,這些深深感動曲全立導演,《台灣超人》的誕生,不只讓這些超人的生命故事能讓更多人看見,更期待每個人從中找到自己的披風與力量。 At the age of 35, director Chuan-Lee Chu was threatened by a brain tumor and had only six months left to live. After undergoing surgery, he was miraculously reborn, with a long scar on the back of his head and the legacy of being partially deaf and partially blind. The second life given to him by God ignited a greater sense of mission in his heart: “What power can my work bring to Taiwan? This brought him back to his original goal as a video creator, to make a movie that would help more children and influence more people. In 2013, Qu was honored with the World 3D Oscars, together with director Ang Lee. After winning the Golden Bell Award and other awards, Qu decided to put down the trophy and go to a remote village to sell his house to build the first 3D mobile movie theater in Asia. In 2020, Qu embarks on a journey to find the Superman of Taiwan. 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