Can creativity help us navigate life with AI? | Frauke Zeller | TEDxBerlin
The talk asks how we want to shape our life with intelligent technology by looking 10 years back into the story of hitchBOT, the first Canadian hitchhiking robot, and by discussing different ideas about people’s current relationship to/with AI.
The concept of Dialectical Intelligence is suggested to stress that we should think less in categories as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ AI and rather ask how people can create a new kind of understanding together with intelligent machines. Will we all talk like Siri or Alexa one day? And if so, how would this change our values and ideas?
Frauke is Chair and Professor in Design Informatics at Edinburgh College of Art, at The University of Edinburgh, and Co-Director of the Institute for Design Informatics. With expertise in human-computer interaction, human-robot interaction, AI, ethics, and digital methods, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the stage. Before moving to Scotland, she was an Associate Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, The Creative School, in Canada, where she held multiple research-related positions, including director of the Centre for Communicating Knowledge and director of The Creative School Audience Lab.Frauke has been involved in numerous international research projects and has received research grants in Canada, Germany, and across the EU. She is also the co-creator of hitchBOT, Canada’s first hitchhiking robot , a project that captured worldwide attention and sparked conversations about robotics, AI, and human-technology interaction. 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
- 12:50Museums must give back what they stole — here’s why | Dorota Blumczynska | TEDxWinnipegWhat does it mean to hold stolen history? Museum CEO Dorota delivers a powerful call for accountability and transformation within the cultural sector. Drawing from her experience at the Manitoba Museum, she exposes the legacy of colonialism that still lives in museum vaults—through artifacts taken without consent, displayed without context, and separated from the communities they belong to.With clarity and conviction, Dorota urges institutions to go beyond symbolic gestures: to return sacred objects, share authority with Indigenous communities, and become true allies in truth and reconciliation. This talk invites us to reimagine museums not as neutral spaces, but as platforms for justice, healing, and co-creation. Dorota Blumczynska, CEO of the Manitoba Museum and Vice-President of the Canadian Museums Association, advocates for museums as spaces of truth, reconciliation, and social justice. She shares her vision for transforming museums to foster healing and understanding. 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
- 15:53How Courage, Curiosity, and Compassion Can Redefine Your Life | Monalisa Saxena | TEDxKIS Pune YouthIn this deeply personal and inspiring TEDx talk, Monalisa Saxena—CEO of Pixights Consulting and COO at Merren—narrates three pivotal life stories that exemplify the power of choosing courage over convention. From breaking academic stereotypes in the ’90s to raise a trailblazing career in communications, to embracing her son’s autism diagnosis with strength and belief, Monalisa speaks about navigating life’s toughest turns with empathy and resilience. Her mantra—“assume competence”—has redefined possibilities not only for her son, who now runs marathons and co-authored an award-winning book, but for countless neurodiverse children. Through her lived experience, Monalisa also sheds light on the silent crisis of women dropping out of the workforce and her mission to build workplaces where empathy meets ambition. A talk that blends vulnerability, humor, and insight—this is a celebration of turning setbacks into wows. Monalisa Saxena is the Chief Operating Officer at Merren and CEO at Pixights Consulting, bringing a rare blend of research depth, entrepreneurial drive, and storytelling finesse to the world of consumer insights. A MICA alumnus and passionate semiotician, she combines data with cultural meaning to decode what truly drives people. With years of experience in decoding consumer behavior, Monalisa is a research buff and mindful entrepreneur who believes in leading with empathy and insight. Whether it’s building scalable research tech or crafting brand narratives, her work bridges logic and emotion—making her a compelling voice at the intersection of business, culture, and innovation. 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
