Like an American leading conference in Vancouver, it is facing political chaos

The American conference known for its short, often inspiring talks on technology, entertainment and design is in Vancouver, in BC, bringing some of the brightest and most creative thinkers – together with those with very deep pockets – in Canada, at a time when most of the world is in chaos due to the American administration.

The participants in the Ted conference of this year say that one of the hottest topics discussed more in the wings that on stage is like reacting to the President of the United States Donald Trump, whose threats involve the economy and sovereignty of Canada, which hosts the conference.

“I think he is one of the many elephants in the room this year,” said in Fried, The correspondent of the main technology for the assiosFor those who came to Vancouver Ted For nine years.

The five -day conference, which ends on Friday, was held in Vancouver in April from 2014, thanks to the sparkling waterfront of the city, framing mountains and Malleable Conference Center.

This year comes at a time when Trump is reversing global trade with large rates or threats.

“We have seen protests in the years passed against Ted … the economic power it represents,” said Fried. “In reality I expected that there could be a little more than that feeling. It is not visible here as much as I thought it could be, but … it is clearly under the surface.”

“So shameful and so embarrassed”

Teri Orr, of Park City, Utah, has come to the Ted conferences since 2006.

“This is the first time that I am so embarrassed and so embarrassed and almost defeated on the state of the United States and love being in Canada, a loving Canadian people,” said the 74 -year -old.

Ted’s approach means capturing the zeitgeist on the changes of emerging society. The attention was recently on artificial intelligence, but this year the organizers tried to balance it with how Trump is shaking the globe, according to Chris Anderson, head of the non -profit Ted.

“Many of us are shocked by the speed with which the world is moving right now, politically, culturally, technologically, just one day passes without a new disturbing drama,” Anderson wrote in the conference program.

Ted is trying to inspire change and innovation, without being political.

Some participants such as Daniel Newman, president of Map lightWhich makes software to help voters to keep track of donations to politicians in the United States, he wants Ted to take positions and ports that have fought repressive regimes.

‘What the United States need now’

“I would like to see Ted really look at what is happening in countries where their democracy has been threatened and what people have done to reject and restore democracy. I think it is what the United States needs now.”

In 2023 Ted launched Ted Democracy – one of the numerous books of Libraot – intended to “reform systems and rekindle civic culture”.

An speaker at the Punta di Vancouver conference this year, Bradley Tusk, received a standing ovation from the public after sharing his idea to significantly increase the vote in the United States by allowing him A safe and open smartphone app.

The philanthropies of his family’s Zanna are behind the mobile vote initiative, which has so far piloted mobile voting projects, for demographic data such as those with disabilities, in 20 elections in seven states.

“We can put an end to the dysfunction and polarization that afflicts our society today,” he said about wanting that technology is widely adopted.

Ted and the aid hole

In the meantime, there is a new pressure on Ted to help fill a huge hole in international development created by the interruption of the American administration USAIDwhich saw a cut of about $ 60 billion.

A part of the 2025 TED conference had international speakers who shared the work they were carrying out abroad to face problems such as displacement, poverty and violence.

Since 2018, Ted has contributed to collecting over 3 billion dollars to finance projects that according to this makes “the world more beautiful, sustainable and right”.

The conference has proven to be fertile for the connection of rich benefactors, often sitting in its theater, listening to stimulating speakers that tell the dynamic work in places that could be neglected by the North American.

Miriam Sidibethe author of Mission brands: how to reach the social impact and business growth through the purposeHe said that the role of Ted for international development is now more than ever.

“People are gathering,” he said after his 2025 speech. “They want something to cling to and in which to believe, and I think this is what we are offering them, something very tangible.”

Sidibe He tries to convince companies that investing in social initiatives, as he did with Unilever, having invested it in a campaign that has led to a change of behavior on the washing of the hands to save lives, is good for the world and business.

The end of Ted Vancouver

Meanwhile, Monique Ruff-Bell, Chief Program and Ted’s strategy officer, told Ted’s 2026 edition in Vancouver’s 2026 edition would be his last in the city.

He said that the organization has worked in a new headquarters for several years and will return to California in 2027, the state in which the conference began in 1992.

“It will be difficult to leave Vancouver because we have such an extraordinary collaboration with the Vancouver congress center,” he said, adding the only reason behind the move is the desire for a “update”.

Participants spend between $ 6,250 and $ 25,000 to be in Vancouver, and at his height the conference has exhausted 2,000 participants, but now those numbers have tightened about 1,600.

Ruff-Bell said that Los Angeles fires and financial markets influenced participation this year.

Orr said that she will miss her annual trips to Vancouver, but understands that change is important, especially now for a conference that tries to be at the forefront.

“We are torching, turning and losing and trying to find new ways to look to the future.”