Adobe has introduced contract intelligence features in Acrobat AI Assistant, targeting enterprises and professionals dealing with complex agreements. The new capabilities, announced on Tuesday, enable users to analyze legal terms, compare multiple contracts, and verify key details with AI-generated summaries while maintaining data security.The expansion comes as businesses struggle with contract management inefficiencies, which can lead to financial and operational risks. According to an Adobe Acrobat survey, 64% of small business owners have avoided signing contracts due to uncertainty over terms, while nearly 70% of consumers admitted to signing agreements without fully understanding them.The new generative AI features can help customers grasp complex terms and spot differences between multiple agreements so they can better understand and verify the information in these important documents faster and easier, Adobe said in a statement.Adobe claimed that the Acrobat AI Assistant supplements LLM technologies with the same AI and machine learning models behind Liquid Mode to provide a highly accurate understanding of document structure and content, which enhances the quality and reliability of AI Assistants outputs.For enterprises handling high volumes of vendor contracts, purchase orders, and legal documents, these challenges could translate into financial and operational risks.This transformation will significantly impact several key areas, said Kartikey Kaushal, senior analyst at Everest Group. Automated contract drafting will evolve to create complex agreements with enhanced accuracy and consistency. AI-powered negotiation assistance will streamline the redlining process by automatically suggesting revisions aligned with organizational policies and historical data. Compliance monitoring will shift to a more proactive approach, with AI continuously scanning contracts for potential risks and regulatory concerns.Additionally, Kaushal added, legal review cycles will be reduced from weeks to hours through advanced document analysis and risk assessment.The new contract intelligence features will be available on desktop, web, and mobile platforms. Both free Adobe Reader and paid Acrobat users can access Acrobat AI Assistant as an add-on subscription for $4.99 per month, Adobe announced in the statement.AI-driven contract intelligence for business efficiencyWith AI integration becoming a critical component of enterprise workflows, Adobes Acrobat AI Assistant will now offer advanced contract intelligence capabilities, allowing businesses to extract key terms, detect discrepancies across multiple contracts, and verify information with AI-generated summaries backed by citations.Customers open billions of contracts in Adobe Acrobat each month, and AI can be a game changer in helping simplify their experience, Abhigyan Modi, senior vice president of Adobe Document Cloud, said in the statement. We are introducing new capabilities to deliver contract intelligence in Adobe AI Assistant, making it easier for customers to understand and compare these complex documents and providing citations to help them verify responses, all while keeping their data safe.These enhancements are particularly relevant for finance teams reviewing sales contracts, legal teams managing compliance, and procurement departments assessing vendor agreements. Marketers and business executives can also use the AI assistant to analyze partnership contracts and service-level agreements without requiring legal expertise.Addressing key business challengesAdobes contract intelligence features aim to solve several long-standing challenges in enterprise contract management. One of the primary advantages is reducing contract review time.With AI-powered summaries and automatic extraction of key terms, businesses can quickly assess obligations, deadlines, and potential risks without manually sifting through lengthy agreements, the statement added.For a manpower and consulting firm, contract management is a critical yet time-consuming process, involving agreements with corporate clients, independent consultants, and regulatory compliance bodies, said Shalu Bindlish, director at Advaita Bedanta Consultants. AI-powered solutions like Adobes Acrobat AI Assistant could streamline this by summarizing key clauses, identifying discrepancies, and ensuring consistency across multiple contracts. This could enhance efficiency in negotiating terms, managing service-level agreements, and ensuring compliance with labor laws across different regions.Ensuring compliance and accuracy is another critical aspect.The AI-driven comparison tool, Adobe claimed, enables organizations to track changes between contract versions, helping to detect inconsistencies and discrepancies before finalizing agreements. This minimizes legal risks and prevents costly errors.However, Bindlish cautioned, while AI can accelerate contract analysis, it may not fully capture industry-specific nuances or evolving legal frameworks. A human review layer remains crucial to validate AI-driven insights and mitigate risks in high-stakes workforce and consulting agreements.Additionally, as per the statement, Adobes solution claims to enhance collaboration and workflow integration. Enterprises can securely share contracts with stakeholders, request electronic signatures, and complete the approval process within the Acrobat platform.This integration eliminates the need for multiple tools, making contract management more efficient and streamlined for teams handling high volumes of agreements, Adobe said in the statement.Enterprise-grade AI with strong data securityAs concerns over data privacy in AI applications continue to rise, Adobe has emphasized its commitment to security. Acrobat AI Assistant, the company claimed, operates within Adobes AI Ethics framework, ensuring that customer data is not used for AI training and remains protected from third-party access.Experts, however, note that AI-powered contract management introduces compliance risks, particularly in highly regulated industries.AI-powered Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) systems raise compliance and legal concerns related to data privacy, regulatory adherence, bias, and liability, particularly in regulated industries such as banking, financial services, healthcare, life sciences, and legal, added Kaushal. These systems process sensitive contractual information, heightening risks under laws like GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, and SOX, which impose stringent data protection and access control requirements.Kaushal also pointed out that AI-generated contract recommendations could introduce legal uncertainties. AI-generated contract recommendations may also lack legal accountability, leading to disputes if incorrect terms are applied. Additionally, AI models trained on biased or outdated data can introduce contractual inconsistencies and unfair terms, increasing litigation risks. Enterprises, therefore, emphasize transparency and explainability to gauge the effectiveness of AI-generated response.Balancing AI efficiency with cautionAdobes AI-driven contract intelligence is positioned as a transformative tool for businesses looking to streamline workflows and mitigate legal risks. However, as AIs role in contract management expands, organizations must balance automation with human oversight to ensure compliance, accuracy, and accountability. With contract complexity increasing across industries, AI-powered solutions offer a potential path to efficiency but experts warn that their effectiveness will depend on how well enterprises integrate AI with existing legal and compliance frameworks.

Anthropic has showcased a new security framework, designed to reduce the risk of harmful content generated by its large language models (LLM), a move that could have far-reaching implications for enterprise tech companies.Large language modelsundergo extensive safety training to prevent harmful outputs but remain vulnerable to jailbreaks inputs designed to bypass safety guardrails and elicit harmful responses, Anthropic said in a statement.

This is todays edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of whats going on in the world of technology.How the Rubin Observatory will help us understand dark matter and dark energyWe can put a good figure on how much we know about the universe: 5%. Thats how much of whats floating about in the cosmos is ordinary matterplanets and stars and galaxies and the dust and gas between them. The other 95% is dark matter and dark energy, two mysterious entities aptly named for our inability to shed light on their true nature.Previous work has begun pulling apart these dueling forces, but dark matter and dark energy remain shrouded in a blanket of questionscritically, what exactly are they?Enter the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, one of our 10 breakthrough technologies for 2025. Boasting the largest digital camera ever created, Rubin is expected to study the cosmos in the highest resolution yet once it begins observations later this year. And with a better window on the cosmic battle between dark matter and dark energy, Rubin might narrow down existing theories on what they are made of. Heres a look at how.Jenna AhartThis story is part of MIT Technology Review Explains, our series untangling the complex, messy world of technology to help you understand whats coming next. You can read more from the series here.Anthropic has a new way to protect large language models against jailbreaksWhats new? AI firm Anthropic has developed a new line of defense against a common kind of attack called a jailbreak. A jailbreak tricks large language models (LLMs) into doing something they have been trained not to, such as help somebody create a weapon. And Anthropics new approach could be the strongest shield against the attacks yet.How they did it: Jailbreaks are a kind of adversarial attack: input passed to a model that makes it produce an unexpected output. Despite a decade of research there is still no way to build a model that isnt vulnerable. But, instead of trying to fix its models, Anthropic has developed a barrier that stops attempted jailbreaks from getting through and unwanted responses from the model getting out. Read the full story.Will Douglas HeavenThree things to know as the dust settles from DeepSeekThe launch of a single new AI model does not normally cause much of a stir outside tech circles, nor does it typically spook investors enough to wipe out $1 trillion in the stock market. Now, a couple of weeks since DeepSeeks big moment, the dust has settled a bit.Within AI, though, what impact is DeepSeek likely to have in the longer term? Here are three seeds DeepSeek has planted that will grow even as the initial hype fades.James ODonnellThis story originally appeared in The Algorithm, our weekly newsletter on AI. To get stories like this in your inbox first, sign up here.If youre interested in learning more about what DeepSeeks breakout success means for the future of AI, watch this conversation between our news editor Charlotte Jee, senior AI editor Will Douglas Heaven, and China reporter Caiwei Chen. It was held at noon ET yesterday as part of our subscriber-only Roundtables seriescheck it out!The must-readsIve combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.1 Elon Musks government allies are weighing up using AI to cut costsAs part of Musks plans to gut federal contracts across the board. (NYT $)+ A 25-year old engineer now has access to the USs top secret systems. (Wired $)+ Staffers for the US agency that sends aid to the worlds neediest have been locked out of their email accounts. (NY Mag $)+ Such measures would have been unthinkable just a few short years ago. (Vox)+ Palantir CEO Alex Karp is a fan of DOGE. (Insider $)2 China has announced its own tariffs on US importsSparking new fears of a full-blown trade war. (FT $)+ The days of cheap Chinese shopping in the US could be coming to an end. (NY Mag $)+ Heres what Trumps tariffs mean for the likes of Temu and Shein. (The Information $)3 US senators blame Silicon Valley for DeepSeeks runaway successBig Techs lobbying for softer export controls created corporate loopholes, they claim. (WP $)+ The rise of DeepSeek doesnt mean the controls have failed, according to ASML. (WSJ $)+ How a top Chinese AI model overcame US sanctions. (MIT Technology Review)4 Meta says it wont release AI systems it deems too riskyBut how that risk is measured is up to Meta. (TechCrunch)+ A new public database lists all the ways AI could go wrong. (MIT Technology Review)5 Gender affirming care is under major threat in the USAdvocates fear Trumps executive order will prevent many people from accessing lifesaving treatments. (Undark)+ Many hospitals are continuing to offer their services, though. (Axios)+ New Yorks Attorney General says pausing such care could violate state law. (The Hill)6 The App Store is now hosting its first porn appAnd Apple is not happy about it. (Reuters)+ The company has an EU antitrust law to thank. (WP $)7 The Doomsday Clock has been given a makeover We are now 89 seconds away from the end of the world. (Fast Company $)8 Meet the UKs AI grandmother wasting scammers timeFraudsters have been left frustrated by the bots dithering. (The Guardian)+ The people using humour to troll their spam texts. (MIT Technology Review)9 We still dont know much about Mars moonsBut a new mission could change that. (New Scientist $)10 Mark Zuckerbergs famous hoodie is up for auctionIf youre so inclined to want to own a piece of nerd history. (Insider $)Quote of the dayItll scare people, itll make people think that the industry is a scam.Anthony Scaramucci, Donald Trumps former communications director, doesnt think much of his former bosss memecoin, he tells the Financial Times.The big storyThe open-source AI boom is built on Big Techs handouts. How long will it last?May 2023In May 2023 a leaked memo reported to have been written by Luke Sernau, a senior engineer at Google, said out loud what many in Silicon Valley must have been whispering for weeks: an open-source free-for-all is threatening Big Techs grip on AI.New open-source large language modelsalternatives to Googles Bard or OpenAIs ChatGPT that researchers and app developers can study, build on, and modifyare dropping like candy from a piata. These are smaller, cheaper versions of the best-in-class AI models created by the big firms that (almost) match them in performanceand theyre shared for free.In many ways, thats a good thing. AI wont thrive if just a few mega-rich companies get to gatekeep this technology or decide how it is used. But this open-source boom is precarious, and if Big Tech decides to shut up shop, a boomtown could become a backwater. Read the full story.Will Douglas HeavenWe can still have nice thingsA place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or skeet em at me.)+ Today would have been the 112th birthday of Rosa Parks, the civil activist who changed the course of history.+ If youre planning a spring break, consider this well-timed inspiration.+ A Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot is reportedly in the works.+ Rise up, daughters of grunge!

Take a look at our latest curated selection of architecture and design firms currently hiring on Archinect Jobs: This week's featured employer highlight includes job openings in New York City/Brooklyn, Washington, D.C., and Spokane.For even more opportunities, visit the Archinect job board and explore our active community of job seekers, firms, and schools.The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is in search of an Exhibition Design Intern in New York City. The program provides practical training experience to individuals interested in pursuing careers in the arts and museum fields. Applicants must have completed at least two years of undergraduate studies to apply, with priority given to rising juniors or seniors and to graduate students. Additionally, applicants do not need an art history background or previous internship experience to apply for this opportunity.The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. Image: Taylor HeeryNew York City-based architectural firm ESKW/Architects is hiring a Proje...

continue reading

The Extended Entry Deadline for Architizer's 2025 A+Product Awards is Friday, February 21st. Get your brand in front of the AEC industrys most renowned designers by submitting today.According to the Global Wellness Institute, the wellness economy surpassed $6.32 trillion in 2023. That figure covers everything from wearable meditation devices to herbal teas, and while personal care and beauty appear to lead the way, when combined, wellness tourism and spas take the top spot, with over $2 trillion dedicated to wellness spaces.Architects and designers know its one thing to throw on a face mask and light a scented candle, but its quite another to engineer an environment that genuinely lowers cortisol levels and realigns circadian rhythms. Designing a sanctuary requires a lot more than pleasant paint colors and transportive aromas. For instance, adding a pocket door to a space might encourage fluid movement, but choose the wrong mechanism and, well, that thing will scrape along its runners like a factory gate if youre not careful. Similarly, a sound bath can be an experience of utter transformation or just as easily a claustrophobic nightmare in an echo chamber. It all depends on the acoustic properties of the space its held in. For architects and designers being meticulous in decision-making is the key to success, and the correct choices help to ensure that the outside world, along with all its woes, stay politely at bay.Thats why the Architizer A+Product Awards highlights exceptional products, those that have been chosen by a prestigious jury as being the best in what they do. The following 14 winners embody that precision. They offer solutions to everyday dilemmas like absorbing ambient noise without the sterile look of a recording booth or introducing natural daylight without turning a room into a greenhouse. None of it is decorative fluff. Each product addresses real-world design challenges by considering occupant well-being while never sacrificing aesthetic value.Enter A+Product AwardsIRIS Luminous SkyCeilingBy Sky FactoryPopular Choice Winner, Lighting, Recessed & Mounted Lighting, 2024 A+Product AwardsSome interiors dont have the luxury of a true skylight, so Sky Factorys IRIS Luminous SkyCeiling fakes it with an algorithmic light show calibrated to the suns daily arc. This system modulates color and intensity so convincingly that drifting clouds appear like real overhead, tricking the brain into syncing with natural daylight. Even NASA asked Foster + Partners and Branch Technology to test IRIS for off-world living concepts showing how well it simulates Earths familiar sky.Unfired Circular TileBy LoqaJury Winner, Best of the Year, Sustainable Design, 2024 A+Product AwardsIn a restful environment, materials shape perception, which is why Loqas Unfired Circular Tile, with its artisanal texture and a guilt-free footprint, is the perfect choice. Formed from 85% industrial waste ceramics, glass and fly ash and no high-temperature firing, each tile cuts carbon emissions while boasting 106% more strength than conventional choices. The result is a textured finish that evokes calm and supports a truly sustainable retreat.Lido Freestanding BathtubBy: Hydro SystemsJury Winner, Fixtures & Fittings Bath, 2024 A+Product AwardsNodding to Morris Lapiduss mid-century flair, Hydro Systems Lido Freestanding Bathtub goes beyond the average oval tub to become a sculptural focal point in any spa-inspired interior. The gently dipping 1.5-inch deck allows effortless entry, while a 31-degree back slope and HydroLuxeSS material deliver the kind of indulgent soak that can confidently be specified for daily restoration. Optional hydro therapies Cold Plunge, Hydro Indulge or Thermal Air push the experience further.BuzziCee + BuzziPlanterBy BuzziSpaceJury Winner, Contract Seating, 2024 A+Product AwardsBuzziCee is an acoustic seating concept that hushes the open-plan clamor with upcycled materials and soft geometry. Paired with BuzziPlanter a lush, sustainable vessel for greenery this duo turns shared spaces into zones for calm, connectivity and collaboration. BuzziSpace proves that well-being can be built right into the furniture with nature and noise control.Facet BathtubBy Stone ForestPopular Choice Winner, Fixtures & Fittings Bath, 2024 A+Product AwardsStone Forests Facet Bathtub is made of natural stone to offer a soul-healing centerpiece. Hand-carved over three weeks from single blocks of Antique Gray Limestone or Noce Basalt each ovoid tub absorbs the ambient room temperature to turn a simple soak into an immersive, spa-like experience. Subtle planes and squared ends also provide both architectural flair and functional rest.VetraSpan-LBy Sentech Architectural SystemsJury Winner, Glass & Glazing, 2024 A+Product AwardsArchitects looking to dissolve the line between indoors and out will find VetraSpan-Ls uninterrupted 50-foot expanse irresistible. Free of vertical joints or bulky frames, Sentechs structural glass system amplifies openness to provide uninterrupted vistas. The result is an uncluttered faade that concentrates the focus on the view, not the hardware.Pure + FreeForm CeilingsBy Pure + FreeFormPopular Choice Winner, Ceilings, 2024 A+Product AwardsCeilings can be an underutilized surface, but Pure + FreeForms ceiling products make them work harder with seamless, noncombustible panels. Made from at least 20% post-consumer content and free of off-gassing, these refined ceiling baffles help create a calm and health-conscious environment. By finishing to exacting tolerances, the system ensures architects can shape sanctuaries without sacrificing performance or sustainability.Dekton Pietra KodeByCosentino GroupJury Winner, Hard Surfacing, Tiles & Stone, 2024 A+Product AwardsCosentinos Dekton Pietra Kode is the epitome of timeless Italian stone, yet, it is ideal for modern wellness-focused interiors, without the upkeep or carbon footprint of its quarried cousins. Reinterpreted by Daniel Germani, each color retains the grounded serenity of Vicenza, Travertine or Ceppo di Gr yet stands up to everyday demands indoors or out. It is a product that is carbon-neutral, ultra-compact surface that provides quiet luxury with lasting peace of mind.Wall ScapesByTurfJury Winner, Walls & Wall Coverings, 2024 A+Product AwardsTurfs new Wall Scapes turn noise control into an artful statement, layering a double panel system in carved motifs that evoke farmland, forest peaksand waves. Each pattern is cut and configured so the gaps become part of the design. With up to 0.4 NRC for acoustic relief, these large-scale panels bring a calming presence with a dash of visual intrigue. A simple yet effective solution.ConoByLuxxboxJury Winner, Pendant Lighting, 2024 A+Product AwardsLuxxboxs Cono pendant hushes background clamor while delivering warm, targeted illumination exactly whats needed in a lounge or private nook designed for peaceful conversation. Crafted from renewable wool on a PET shell, it is a multifunctional solution that merges acoustic performance with excellent lighting. Whether hung alone or in clusters, Cono is a brilliant all-rounder product.ItalicaByGruppo Romani SpA Industrie CeramichePopular Choice Winner, Tiles & Stone, 2024 A+Product AwardsRustic terracotta rarely feels this contemporary. Italica takes an age-old aesthetic and elevates it for modern projects that demand both comfort and practicality. Five earthy tones from volcanic reds to salty neutrals let architects shift between large-format expanses or smaller, modular tiles. By harnessing the strength of porcelain stoneware, Italica enables a stress-free design that respects tradition while encouraging everyday calm.690/695 Sliding Door SystemByC.R. LaurenceJury Winner, Doors & Hardware, 2024 A+Product AwardsBecause nothing kills a quiet space faster than a door that scrapes or squeaks open, CRLs 690/695 Sliding Door System glides with near-silent grace. A single advanced soft-brake mechanism hushes movement across broad glass spans while the minimal 2.5-inch header all but disappears, letting the architecture speak for itself. In any space aimed at genuine repose, this door helps keep the outside world firmly at bay.Seyun CollectionBy Zaha Hadid DesignJury Winner, Residential Furniture, 2024 A+Product AwardsCarving serenity from natural timber, the Seyun Collection by Zaha Hadid Design brings calm curves into any environment. Commissioned by Karimoku, the sculptural chairs, stools and tables pair digital precision with hand-finished warmth thats both visually fluid and physically ergonomically supportive. Sustainably sourced and assembled with minimal waste, each piece aligns with an architects pursuit of tranquil, earth-friendly design.Bio-Acoustic Claypot Wall PanelBy CSI CreativePopular Choice Winner, Finishes, Acoustics, 2024 A+Product AwardsAs much as they might try plants, on their own, cant do everything, but thats where CSI Creatives Bio-Acoustic Claypot Wall Panel comes in to help. Combining serious sound-dampening with botanic design, the recycled felt and terracotta wall planters referenced from African craft, integrate greenery in a modular recoverable system that architects and designers can install without the need for a horticulture degree. The result is a visually tactile surface that balances cultural authenticity and acoustic performance.The Extended Entry Deadline for Architizer's 2025 A+Product Awards is Friday, February 21st. Get your brand in front of the AEC industrys most renowned designers by submitting today.The post Relaxing Retreat: 14 Soothing Products to Create the Perfect Home Sanctuary appeared first on Journal.

With its recent financial results, Nintendo shared updated sales figures for its latest Switch titles. Perhaps the most noteworthy is Super Mario Party Jamboree, launched on October 17th, 2024, which has sold 6.17 million copies as of December 31st, 2024. Its very impressive and reflects the franchises popularity, even with Switch hardware and software sales down year-over-year.As with previous entries, Super Mario Party Jamboree offers numerous playable characters and boards to play on (four available, three to unlock). Up to four players can compete to complete mini-games, earn Coins and Stars, and ultimately win. Jamboree mixes things up by adding Jamboree Buddies, who possess unique abilities to turn the tides.It also features Pro Rules for the more competitive-minded and Party Planner Trek, a single-player mode where you play mini-games for NPCs and unlock subsequent areas. Outside of its sales, the critical response to Super Mario Party Jamboree has been exceptional, becoming the franchises best-rated.

Head of TED Chris Anderson at the TED conference in Vancouver, BC, Canada. (Photo: Ryan Lash / TED)Its time for TED to embark on an exciting new chapterIve had the great good fortune to have overseen TED for the last 25 years. Its been exhilarating, and I feel great pride in what TED has become. As the organization moves into its fifth decade and I approach (gulp) 70, I believe the time has come for someone new to take the reins.So today, with the support of dear friends and colleagues, I am issuing an open invitation to anyone who believes they might have the resources and the ideas to oversee TED for its next 25 years (and beyond!) to step forward. Wed like to carefully pass over control of the entire organization and all its component parts to the best new steward.To be clear, I am not seeking to gain financially from this process. TED is a non-profit (I have never been paid a salary), and any money that comes in will go not to me but directly toward supporting the future growth of TED. The only goal is to let TED go to whoever has the best vision for its next era and the resources to execute that vision.Letting go is an idea whose power Ive been astonished by time and time again. After all, it was when we started giving away our content online in 2006 that TED Talks became a global phenomenon, shared widely and translated into more than 100 languages. And it was when we started giving away our brand in the form of free TEDx licenses that local organizers responded by volunteering incredible efforts of their own, carrying our way of sharing ideas to communities all over the world.So as Ive dreamed of the best possible future for TED, its natural that we should continue to be guided by this principle, and take the ultimate step of letting go of its stewardship to someone else. Rather than commence a multitude of private conversations, I think its fairer, and better, and more in the spirit of TED to open up this process to our global community. Everyone who works at TED, everyone whos ever come to a TED conference, every TED partner and donor, every one of our global volunteer force of translators and TEDxers, every TED Member, indeed everyone whos ever given or been informed or inspired by a TED Talk you all have a stake in this, and your collective wisdom is going to help us arrive at a better answer than anything I can come up with individually.Here are some of the elements whose oversight we would like to pass along:TED: The business unit that runs all our operations, a super talented team of around 220 employees who collectively make extraordinary things happen daily. TEDs dynamic leadership team, headed by CEO Jay Herratti, is fully on board with this transitionTED Foundation: This is the non-profit that currently owns TED and of which I am currently the sole director. Taking over TED will include control of the $25 million in reserve funds used to sustain the org in uneven timesTED events: These include our main annual conference, attended by 1,500 of the worlds most influential people; our newer conference, TEDNext; and our role in the climate collaboration, TED Countdown. We also recently launched an innovative new event format with a single topic focus and regularly host other one-off salons and events with partnersTEDx: We currently offer free licenses to more than 3,000 TEDx events worldwide which in turn stage and publish nearly 20,000 talks annuallyTEDs digital library: TEDs digital output is far more than talks, but our archive includes more than 4,000 TED Talks, 250,000 TEDx talks, 1,700 TED-Ed animations (and counting)TED Media: TED distributes TED and TEDx Talks from our events and publishes original content in the form of interviews, animations, newsletters, social media posts and shorts across all major platforms, with some 180 million subscribers and billions of views per yearTED Podcasts: Our highly rated, award-winning audio collective publishes original podcasts along with specialist series based on our talk archive. Collectively, annual downloads exceed 178 millionTED-Ed: Our award-winning animated lessons, interactive learning platform, and engaging student programs have some 5 billion views, more than a million registered educators, and 6,000 active student groups. TED-Ed is accessed by millions of teachers and students daily, both inside and outside of the classroomTED Members: We currently have more than 15,000 paid online TED members, who support our mission and get access to virtual programmingTED Partners: We collaborate with a robust portfolio of companies to craft compelling partnerships across events, media platforms and custom opportunities. These programs are a unique opportunity to work with industry-leading brands and a key source of operating revenue and monetizationTED Translators: A global community of more than 50,000 volunteer translators who enable TED content to be subtitled into 115 languages, plus reliable AI-adapted voice-cloned dubbing and localization of TED platformsTED Fellows: Through this program, we provide transformational support to a global community of more than 500 remarkable individuals who collaborate across disciplines to spark change around the worldTED TV: Building on the Ideas Search model weve been honing for years, were expanding into longer-form non-fiction documentary programming built for streamersTED@Work: Our newest offering brings the spirit of TED ideas to workplace learning, along with speaker trainingTED Games: A nascent initiative with growing traction in the online gaming space. Our focus is on smart games that are both entertaining and ideas-basedTED NYC: 47,500 square feet of office space in downtown New York City, including our unique world theater, which weve used to host events and record talks since 2017Even more exciting are the new initiatives currently underway. TEDs brand stands for new possibilities, and TEDs leadership has strategies in place to produce new events, invest in new content formats, and build new ventures in learning and education. With new capital, these and other initiatives can extend TEDs impact to the next 25 years.Given the potency and complexity of all this, who best to take over TEDs future stewardship? Who could best turbocharge it for even greater global impact? A university with a large endowment willing to do something radical for the world? Another non-profit organization with significant extra resources? A major philanthropist, or group of philanthropists, with a vision for sharing powerful ideas at global scale? A media company looking for new, trusted content? A social media platform looking to replace dangerous algorithms with crowd-curated wisdom? One of the big AI platforms? A major city that dreams of creating an annual festival of ideas? A Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) made up of every passionate member of the TED community, including you? Or perhaps the best move forward is to keep TED inside its current foundation and simply appoint a group of visionary board members to oversee it?I dont know yet. But with your help and input, Im excited to find out.Of course, this must be done wisely. TED is a unique offering in a complicated world, and I owe it to our community to ensure that TED continues to be animated by the values that have taken it this far. Any new leadership should have convincing plans on how theyll approach TED both now and for the long term. Here are some of the questions that well use to evaluate possible new stewards:1. Whats your vision?When I first took over TED all those years ago, we were at the dawn of a new era, as technological innovation and the web changed everything. Now, with astonishing developments in AI arriving almost daily, it seems were on the cusp of another key moment. So whats your vision to take TED into the future with clarity, confidence, and vigor?2. How will you ensure continued editorial independence?TED should continue to operate in service of the public good, never compromised by the commercial interests of any new owner. The engagement of sponsors, as we do at present, is fine, probably essential, and has helped TED immeasurably. But they and we know that we ultimately answer to the independent pursuit of truth, wisdom and hope.3. Will you commit to maintaining an open tent?In a divided world, it might be tempting to try and push TED to a comfortable spot on one or other side of the political divide. This cannot happen. TED must remain non-partisan and actually double down on efforts to embrace voices from a wide spectrum of viewpoints.4. How will you expand TEDs global reach?TED might have started in the US, but ideas know no borders. TED is for the world, and its journey toward a greater international footprint should continue. This should include ongoing support of our global community of TEDx organizers, TED Translators and TED-Ed educators, and our ambition to distribute TED content for free in multiple languages.5. How will you preserve TEDs content for the long term?TED is known for its TED Talks, which often reflect a lifetime of work from the speaker. In recent years, weve experimented with other formats too, and collectively the TED archive is a powerful catalog of human wisdom, expressed in that most ancient and powerful of communication forms: speech. Any future owner will need a plan to ensure these assets will be preserved in perpetuity.6. Will you commit to continued free distribution now and long term?Ideas are for everyone. TED should continue to offer free access to its core content to anyone in the world with an internet connection. 7. How large of a capital commitment can you make to TEDs future?For TED to realize its full potential, itll need new funding for the future growth of new programs and products and to allow the smart leverage of new technologies such as AI. The willingness to commit significant capital for the long term will be an important deciding factor. (Again, 100% of this money will be for TED, not for me.)What about me? Am I quitting TED? No! I love TED. Its a huge part of me. I want to be connected to TED as long as I live, and Im willing to continue to serve as adviser, cheerleader or co-host if the new leadership wishes. Itll be their call.Its going to take time to figure out who to pass TED on to. I know this period may be challenging for some, both on the TED team and in our community. I believe the outcome will be exciting, but of course the not-knowing will still need navigating. I want to thank you for your patience and trust.So. What now? Well, you can join the conversation on X, Facebook or LinkedIn. Or write to me at chris@ted.com. And if you might be interested in throwing your hat into the ring reach out to us at nextchapter@ted.com. We have retained LionTree Advisors to help us navigate our next steps, and will ensure we work together as a community as we enter this new chapter together.Finally, just to be clearThis. Will. Be. Great.With excitement and gratitude,ChrisFor press inquiries, contact press@ted.com.

Deloitte said chip sales will soar in 2025, led by GenAI and data center build-outs, even as demand from PC and mobile markets may be weak.Read More