AI and Epidemic of Intellectual Obesity | MOHAMMED AJMAL C | TEDxPeacePublicSchoolKottakkal
How many clicks, swipes and AI prompts does it take before our brains stop doing the heavy lifting? In this TEDx talk, educator-entrepreneur Mohammed Ajmal reveals what he calls “Intellectual Obesity”—a hidden epidemic in which ever-smarter tools hand us flawless answers while quietly starving our critical-thinking muscles. The talk opens with a dramatic on-stage experiment: a JEE-Advanced problem that used to humble India’s brightest teens now collapses in four seconds under a generative-AI lens. Ajmal then weaves classroom interviews with fresh MIT brain-scan research to show how children’s neural “gym time” is being outsourced, shifting young minds from active problem-solving into passive copy-and-paste mode.But this is not a doom-and-gloom sermon. Ajmal argues that the real divide of the coming decade will be between Augmented Thinkers, who treat AI as a sparring partner that builds cognitive strength, and Dependent Users, who let the tool become a crutch. He outlines a simple three-step blueprint—tested in math, history and science classes—that forces students to probe, critique and improve AI-generated work, turning easy answers into deeper questions and stronger synapses. Finally, he calls on parents, teachers and policymakers to redesign homework, exams and curricula so the next generation can grow up mentally fit in an age of endless convenience.Ajmal is an IIT Madras-trained engineer turned educator, Ajmal is the founder & CEO of XandY Learning, which serves 4000+ students and leads AI-literacy drives. He hosts the 100 K-subscriber YouTube channel “Unlearn with Ajmal” and writes for The Hindu and other medias on education reform and the future of work. His mission is simple: help every child build the thinking skills—and ethical compass—needed to thrive alongside AI. Mohammed Ajmal C is the Co-Founder and CEO of XandY Learning while serving as Design Engineering Lead at Intel Corporation and Fellow/Trustee of PM Foundation. An IIT Madras dual degree graduate (B.Tech Honors in Electrical Engineering, top 1%), he was a topper in IIT JEE, AIEEE, Kerala Engineering Entrance, CUSAT, and BITSAT. As an educational vlogger ("Unlearn with Ajmal") with 77.6K YouTube subscribers, he conducts workshops on career guidance and learning science for students, teachers, and parents. A sought-after speaker, he has delivered sessions at PROFCON, PROFACE, Calicut University ("AI: Beyond Buzzwords"), and schools nationwide, while receiving recognition from Prof P Raveendran (VC, Calicut University). His initiatives include the 'Science of Learning' workshop (KNCC Qatar) and 'Ezhuthupura' program with Wisdom Board of Education. 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
- 10:34Parcours D | Anwar Rouh | TEDxESCAActuellement en 4ᵉ année du Programme Grande École à l’ESCA, spécialisé en Finance, Audit et Contrôle de gestion, il a su transformer une différence souvent mal comprise en une force singulière. Aujourd’hui, il partage avec nous son parcours, marqué par le dépassement de soi et une remarquable résilience. Anwar Rouh is a 4th-year student at ESCA School of Management, pursuing a degree in Finance, Audit & Control within the Grande École Program. Passionate about storytelling and human insight, he stood out during the TEDxESCA Student Speaker Competition with a talk that challenged perspectives and resonated deeply with the audience by presenting his own experience.He will be one of the featured speakers at TEDxESCA 2025, bringing with him a fresh, student-driven vision of what lies beneath the iceberg. 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
- 13:21Hacking Ético:Reflexões sobre realidade atual, desafios futuros | André Baptista | TEDxTorres VedrasNesta palestra, André Baptista, aborda temas como Redes de Informação, Segurança da Informação, Inteligência Artificial, e o papel do Hacking Ético na defesa do Mundo Livre. André Baptista é um hacker ético, co-fundador da Ethiack e tem 10 anos de experiência em Segurança Informática. É professor convidado da Universidade do Porto e ganhou vários prémios internacionais ao ajudar organizações de todo o mundo a corrigir mais de 500 vulnerabilidades impactantes. Renovou recentemente o título de Hacker Mais Valioso numa competição nos Estados Unidos da América e é ainda um dos treinadores da Seleção Nacional para o European Cyber Security Challenge organizado pela ENISA. Acredita que o hacking ético, através da identificação e correção de vulnerabilidades contínua, é um escudo fundamental contra ameaças digitais à sociedade e à estabilidade do Mundo Livre. 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
- 8:24Quand tout semble bouché | Hicham Mjigal | TEDxESCAspécialiste en gynécologie-obstétrique a offert au public un témoignage profondément humain sur la santé de la femme et le traitement de l’infertilité. Reconnu pour son approche innovante, il a partagé un cas clinique bouleversant, illustrant comment la médecine, au-delà des techniques, devient une véritable rencontre entre l’expertise et l’écoute, entre la science et l’humain. Son intervention a rappelé avec force l’importance de replacer le bien-être et la dignité des patientes au cœur de la pratique médicale. Dr. Hicham Mjigal is a gynecologist, obstetrician, and breast specialist based in Rabat, Morocco. With extensive training in gynecological and breast surgery, as well as a specialization in colposcopy from the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Fez, Dr. Mjigal offers expertise in infertility treatment, IVF, intimate laser surgery, and cosmetic gynecology.Passionate about women's health and innovation in medical care, he combines advanced surgical techniques with personalized patient support to improve well-being and quality of life. 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
- 12:24Abandoning Virtuosity | Chris Froh | TEDxUCDavisControlling one’s instrument through extensive technical prowess has long been considered the ultimate goal of a successful musical practice. But, does something even more fruitful lie beyond technique? In this talk, Chris Froh addresses some of the benefits of moving beyond the goal of virtuosity in music and our lives. Percussionist Christopher Froh specializes in promoting and influencing the creation of new music through critically acclaimed performances and dynamic lectures. To date, he has premiered over 150 chamber and solo works by composers from 17 countries. His collaborations include some of the most significant composers of the 20th and 21st centuries, including Chaya Czernowin, David Lang, Steve Mackey, John Adams, George Crumb, Liza Lim, Matthias Pintcher, and Keiko Abe. Froh has also worked extensively, realizing percussion scores of player piano and fixed-media pieces by Conlon Nancarrow. This project culminated in a solo recital at the Whitney Museum in New York City and featured solo performances with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center at Alice Tully Hall. Froh’s performances have garnered exceptional critical praise. The New York Times heralded his interpretations of modern repertoire as “entrancing,” “alluring,” and “vividly wrought.” The Chicago Tribune has praised his “unfailing virtuosity,” while the San Francisco Chronicle described his performances as “tremendous” and “fierce and uncompromising.” The San Francisco Classical Voice writes of his playing, “Percussionist Christopher Froh has been an invaluable presence in the Bay Area … enlivening the contemporary music scene with performances of exceptional musicality and virtuosity.” Froh has performed works for solo percussion at venues around the world, including Alice Tully Hall, the American Academy in Rome, the Beijing Modern Music Festival, the Harris Theater in Chicago, the Hagia Irene in Istanbul, the Kennedy Center, and concert halls throughout Japan. He has been featured with leading voices in chamber music, including Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Music at Menlo, and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. As an orchestral musician, he has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra, the Honolulu Symphony, and the San Francisco Symphony at Carnegie Hall. Strongly committed to developing diverse and underrepresented voices in the performing arts, Froh has created visionary outreach programs targeting underserved communities. His workshops, lectures, and classes have shared the immediacy and relevance of music with homeless and housing-insecure populations, children of migrant farmworkers, and at-risk youth. Froh is a faculty member at the University of California at Davis, where he teaches percussion and chamber music. 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
- 5:16Chopin Piano Performance | Amaar Chughtai | TEDxArdenwood YouthAmaar Chughtai takes the stage to perform one of Chopin’s most emotionally profound works: the Nocturnes. Known for their lyrical beauty and technical intricacy, these pieces demand both skill and soul. With over seven years of classical and jazz training, Amaar delivers a performance that blends precision with deep, heartfelt expression. Amaar is a certified CM Level 10 concert and jazz pianist. He performs at local venues across the Bay Area, and he loves classical and jazz genres. Today, he will be performing one of Chopin’s most emotionally rich compositions—the Nocturnes. These pieces are known not just for their technical complexity, but for the depth of feeling they require. Amaar brings both precision and passion to the piano, shaped by 7+ years of dedication, practice, and a deep love for music 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
- 3:08"Did I Just Prove You Wrong?" Song Performance | Rayah Rizqi | TEDxArdenwood YouthRayah Rizqi brings her vibrant voice to the stage with a performance that reflects her passion for music and creativity. As a classically trained vocalist, she combines technical skill with emotional depth to captivate audiences. Rayah Rizqi is a dynamic and multi-talented young entrepreneur and musician from Fremont, California. She is the founder of Petals & Potions, a custom perfume line she launched at just 11 years old—earning her the Best Young Entrepreneur award at the Fremont Children’s Business Fair, as featured in Tri-City Voice. In 2024, Rayah also won the OPEN Silicon Valley Youth Shark Tank Pitch Competition for her team's startup, Money Mentors. Beyond her entrepreneurial achievements, Rayah is a classically trained pianist and vocalist who regularly performs at school and community events. Her passion for creativity, discipline, and social impact shines through in everything she does. 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