Seeing the world through others' eyes has always been a metaphor...until (almost) now. As we discover more techniques for extending and tapping into the human brain, futurist Ramez Naam suggests that the next few decades of human growth and communication will empower new voices and expand our capacity for empathy.

Ramez Naam is an author of science nonfiction and also of science fiction that explores what could be. He was born in Cairo, Egypt, and came to the US at the age of 3. Ramez spent 13 years at Microsoft, where he led teams developing early versions of Microsoft Outlook, Internet Explorer, and the Bing search engine. His career took him to the role of Partner and Director of Program Management within Microsoft, with deep experience leading teams working on cutting edge technologies such as machine learning, search, massive scale services, and artificial intelligence.

Between stints at Microsoft, Ramez founded and ran Apex NanoTechnologies, the world's first company devoted entirely to software tools to accelerate molecular design. He holds 19 patents related to search engines, information retrieval, web browsing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

Ramez is also the H.G. Wells Award-winning author of four books: including More Than Human: Embracing the Promise of Biological Enhancement, a look at the power of technology to improve the human condition; and the near-future neuroscience thrillers Nexus and Crux, about a technology that links minds, and the implications it has for the world. His most recent nonfiction book, on accelerating innovation to overcome environmental and natural resource challenges, is The Infinite Resource: The Power of Ideas on a Finite Planet. He lives in Seattle, where he writes and speaks full time.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx