TEDxIEMSaltLake 2026 explores AI's impact on loneliness

The TEDxIEMSaltLake 2026 event was held on September 30, 2026, at the IEDC CSE Lab in Salt Lake, Kolkata. Organized by the Department of Basic Science and Humanities at the Institute of Engineering & Management (IEM), the conference focused on the theme ‘CTRL + U: Loneliness in the Era of AI.’

The event aimed to examine the relationship between artificial intelligence and human connection, specifically addressing how society can maintain empathy and authentic relationships in an increasingly digital world. The gathering included speakers from various fields, including technology, medicine, academia, arts, and spirituality.

Featured speakers included Satish Reddy Eadala of Electronic Arts, playback singer Lagnajita Chakraborty, spiritual orator Bhakt Bhagwat, and medical professional Dr. Kunal Sarkar. Academic representatives included Prof. Dr. Suman Chakraborty from IIT Kharagpur and Prof. Dr. Satyajit Chakrabarti from the University of Engineering & Management, Kolkata.