AI Does My Homework. Does Thinking Still Matter? | Xiran Xu | TEDxJLHX Intl School Youth

The smartest tool in the world means nothing if the person using it stops thinking. Xiran (Ryan) Xu is an international high school student who’s fascinated by how technology shapes the way people think and live. Growing up in a time when AI can write essays, make art, and even “think,” he often asks himself: what still makes our minds unique?
Rather than fearing technology, Ryan embraces it with curiosity and reason. He has a strong interest in computer science and programming, seeing them not just as tools, but as languages that express creativity and logic. For him, coding is like problem-solving poetry — precise, elegant, and full of discovery.
Beyond his academic life, Ryan enjoys hosting school events and sharing ideas that connect technology with everyday experience. He believes that in a world increasingly shaped by machines, what truly defines us is our ability to imagine, question, and care.
Through his TEDx talk, Ryan hopes to inspire others to use technology wisely — to think deeper, dream bigger, and stay unmistakably human. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx