Tristan Harris

Why you should listen

Tristan Harris has been one of the most influential voices warning about the dangers of runaway technology and the urgent need to realign it with the public interest. Through his work, including as a central figure in the hit Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma, he helped popularize concepts such as “attention economy” and “persuasive design,” sparking a global conversation about ethics and responsibility in tech. Today, Harris is at the forefront of efforts to ensure artificial intelligence is developed responsibly — most notably through “The AI Dilemma,” his groundbreaking talk with Aza Raskin — advocating for systemic change in how AI companies are incentivized and governed. He is a cofounder of the Center for Humane Technology, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to align technology with humanity’s best interests. He hosts the TED podcast Your Undivided Attention and regularly briefs heads of state, technology company CEOs and US Congress members about what’s required to avoid the dangers of AI and social media.