(BEM NEWS) Surabaya, Saturday, November 22, 2025 – The event space transformed into a hub of exciting ideas as TEDx Universitas Airlangga 2025 officially opened this year's Main Event. Located at the Pala Ballroom, Surabaya Suites Hotel, TEDxUniversitasAirlangga held its culminating event.
With the theme "Within the Shadeline," TEDxAirlangga University presented six thought-provoking topics: "Synthetic Selves," "Through the Borrowed Mirror," "The Weight of Giving Hearts," "Long Walks and Understanding," "World Without AI," and "Voice Manipulation."
One of the speakers was Bilal Faranov, a podcaster and host of Suara Berkelas. He presented "The Weight of Giving Hearts." In this topic, Bilal encouraged the audience to understand the phenomenon of overgiving.
"Psychologists call this phenomenon overgiving, when someone gives excessively for validation, acceptance, or to avoid conflict. Dr. Harriet Braiker, one of the leading researchers on people-pleasing, calls it The Disease to Please. The disease of pleasing everyone but oneself," he explained.
To address this phenomenon, Bilal offers several solutions, including understanding the signs of depression, setting healthy boundaries, and building an internal reputation. "When you say yes to everything, you create internal conflict; when you say no, you face external conflict," he emphasized.
The Impact of AI on How the Brain Works
Besides Bilal Faranov, Thor Atari also spoke on Voice Manipulation. He emphasized the human desire to understand how the world works.
According to him, one form of human curiosity is Artificial Intelligence (AI). "AI was born from a simple curiosity: what if machines could help us think? What if computers could learn and do things that only humans can do," he said.
Furthermore, Thor explained a study from MIT that he found terrifying. It showed significant differences in connectivity between brain regions. The group using AI had minimal connectivity, with little to no communication between brain regions.
He said that over time, our thinking muscles become weaker. "We remember less because we don't feel the need to remember. We know the answers, but we don't understand the process. Our creativity becomes more like a template, our thoughts become default patterns, not personalities," he said.
With an inspiring lineup of speakers, an artistic atmosphere, and a powerfully reflective theme, TEDxAirlangga University 2025 once again demonstrated its role as a space for the growth of fresh ideas amidst the dynamics of the times. Through Within The Shadeline, participants were invited not only to listen but also to explore hidden aspects of themselves and the world that may have previously escaped their attention.