Ideas worth spreading

Is technology our savior — or our slayer?

524,376 views |

Ruha Benjamin |

TEDWomen 2023

• October 2023

When it comes to technology, we're often presented with two contrasting visions of the future: one where technology fulfills all our desires, and another where it leads to chaos and conflict. Sociologist Ruha Benjamin is here with a more radical vision of the future — one where humanity isn't saved or slayed by technology, but rather uses it to uplift ordinary people and make things like health care and housing for all a reality.

When it comes to technology, we're often presented with two contrasting visions of the future: one where technology fulfills all our desires, and another where it leads to chaos and conflict. Sociologist Ruha Benjamin is here with a more radical vision of the future — one where humanity isn't saved or slayed by technology, but rather uses it to uplift ordinary people and make things like health care and housing for all a reality.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Pre-order Ruha Benjamin's forthcoming book Imagination: A Manifesto.

Learn about the many ways to help #StopCopCity in Atlanta and in a city near you, from calling and emailing targets, to organizing solidarity protests and actions.

Learn about Decidim, a digital platform for citizen participation. Learn about the methodologies, practices, standards, actions, narratives and values, in a free, open, collaborative and reflective way.

About the speaker

Ruha Benjamin

Innovation and equity researcher

See speaker profile

Ruha Benjamin examines the relationship between innovation, inequity and imagination.

Ruha Benjamin | W. W. Norton & Company, 2024 | Book

Imagination: A Manifesto

This book offers visionary examples and tactics to push beyond the constraints of what we think, and are told, is possible. This book is for anyone who is ready to take to heart Toni Morrison's instruction: “Dream a little before you think.”

Ruha Benjamin | Princeton University Press, 2022 | Book

Viral Justice: How We Grow the World We Want

Born of a stubborn hopefulness, this book offers a passionate and practical vision of how small changes can add up to large ones, transforming our relationships and communities and helping us build a more just and joyful world. Discussion guide here.

Ruha Benjamin | Polity Press, 2019 | Book

Race After Technology: Abolitionist Tools for the New Jim Code

An illuminating guide that provides conceptual tools for decoding tech promises with sociologically informed skepticism, challenging us to question not only the technologies we are sold but also the ones we ourselves manufacture. Discussion guide here.

Learn more

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Pre-order Ruha Benjamin's forthcoming book Imagination: A Manifesto.

Learn about the many ways to help #StopCopCity in Atlanta and in a city near you, from calling and emailing targets, to organizing solidarity protests and actions.

Learn about Decidim, a digital platform for citizen participation. Learn about the methodologies, practices, standards, actions, narratives and values, in a free, open, collaborative and reflective way.