TEDxSydney 2026: Cortex
TEDxSydney 2026 was held on the evening of Thursday, 23rd April at the State Library and explored the theme Cortex: An ode to Natural Intelligence in the age of artificial stimulation.
To open the event, an incredibly moving Welcome to Country was offered by Gadigal woman Kerry Johnson. Kerry responded to the theme by sharing her view of the natural intelligence embodied and practiced by First Nations cultures for thousands of years.
The event was framed by Creative Director Eleanor Gammell as an invitation into a broader conversation about intelligence itself. “We are living through the most extraordinary revolution of technology and cognition humanity has known, one that opens possibility across health, education, science and creativity, and risk just as vast, as a handful of companies race to concentrate intelligence and the power that comes with it. Cortex asks us to widen our lens. To hold the full aperture: the innovation and design capacity this technology brings, and the risks inherent in developing it without guard rails or the wisdom of restraint. Beyond AI as a productivity hack to the deeper question beneath this transformation: what is the future of being human in an age of AI, and what, in our relationality, our critical thinking and perhaps even the sacredness of consciousness, must we protect?”
Our first speaker was neuro-futurist Joel Pearson, who first diagnosed the Artificial Intelligence revolution as different from any technological revolution that humanity has previously created. He then warned us of what true AI preparedness must look like for businesses and nations.
Doctor Catriona Wallace dared us to consider whether AI might be a form of organised mineral intelligence, the likes of which the world has not yet seen. Her background in shamanic practices and deep exploration of leadership combine to offer a unique perspective on where the collective culture may turn in the future of our human and mineral evolution.
A short film reflecting on the theme and made by Susan Kosti was played before Wiradjuri man David Beaumont offered a profound invitation to deeply consider the words we choose, as they have profound meaning and a lasting impact on all of humanity. David drew on the location of the event – surrounded by thousands of books – to support his view of the importance of discerning language on our collective experience which determines our collective intelligence.
Sughra Shah Bukhari, who responded to our ideas search callout to the community, shared an exploration about instinctive intelligence and its role in helping us to adapt to new situations and contexts. Across borders, across relationships, across languages.
Handpan player Baran Yildiz offered the audience two stunning original pieces: "Metamorphosis" and “Güneş”: beautiful performances that took full advantage of the venue's magnificent acoustics.
Paul Liknaitzky shared extraordinary insights into our rapidly evolving understanding of intelligence itself through psychedelics and its potential to open our minds to new ways of processing trauma. Paul drew on true cases of patients who have participated in clinical psychedelic studies with stories of reframing years of trauma that had arrested their ability to live fully until that point.
The event was closed with a personal history from seven-time world champion surfer Layne Beachley, detailing how she learned to win world titles through painful and deep self awareness and returning to joy. Layne’s trajectory, from terrified child to champion surfer, was laid bare in an emotionally raw delivery. The embodiment of a form of intelligence so often undervalued.
We thank all who joined us in the room for a sold-out TEDxSydney event.
