Non-profit conference organisation, standing for Technology, Entertainment, Design. The first TED conference was held in 1984 in Monterey, California, the same year Apple introduced the Macintosh. TED was bought in 2001 for $14m by Chris Anderson, a magazine publisher, when it was considered kaput amid the dotcom crash. He turned it into a charity, activated a community of fans and harnessed the internet.
TED pioneered having the world's bright minds crystallise big ideas into pithy talks, offered free online without garish ads. A standard ticket to the annual flagship event costs $12,500; a VIP one costs $100,000. As a non-profit, TED tapped a global community of volunteers to translate videos and defied the MBA playbook by open-sourcing its brand, allowing others to hold events under the TEDx label. Its Audacious Project works with philanthropists to funnel around $1bn a year to social entrepreneurs.
On October 15th 2025, after nearly 25 years as its "curator", Anderson appealed for someone to oversee TED. Around 100 entities stepped forward; some valued TED at $1bn. Rather than selling, TED unveiled a management transition: Sal Khan, the boss of Khan Academy, became its "vision steward", and Logan McClure Davda was promoted from "head of impact" to chief executive. Anderson will stay on, focusing on fundraising and philanthropy. Khan will remain at Khan Academy and not be paid by TED.
TED and Khan Academy plan to work together: both are in different parts of the education-technology business, one aiming videos at adults, the other at children. TED also has a division focused on executive training for companies.
The end of the world will occur at three p.m., this Friday, with symposium to follow.