Listening to TED talks can be a good way to absorb a wide range of ideas and perspectives (Getty Images / izusek)

As social and technological disruptors continue to impact the accounting profession, CPAs must stay ahead of challenges and identify new opportunities for growth. From the ethics of artificial intelligence to climate change – and why accountants will help solve it – here are some TED talks worth putting on your watchlist.

FINANCIAL INCLUSION, BIG DIGITAL FRACTURE AND OTHER THOUGHTS ON THE FUTURE OF MONEY
By Ajay Banga

Mastercard CEO talks about bridging the gap between people in countries where micro-businesses operate only with cash and the digital economy elsewhere in the world. Mastercard is working with the Gates Foundation on financial inclusion in these countries, helping citizens access services such as insurance, credit, and investment.

WHAT COVID-19 MEANS FOR THE FUTURE OF TRADE, CAPITALISM AND CASH
By Dan Schulman

In this unusually long lecture (49 minutes), the CEO of PayPal presents his premise: Capitalism needs an upgrade and that upgrade starts with paying adequate salaries so people can invest in their own future. Businesses must cultivate trust, he says, so that they can recover and rebuild from the pandemic and create a more inclusive and ethical economy.

3 TYPES OF BIAS THAT SHAPE YOUR VISION OF THE WORLD
By J. Marshall Shepherd

We keep hearing about the issue of biases in artificial intelligence, but what about the biases that inhabit us? In this talk, meteorologist J. Marshall Shepherd discusses how confirmation bias, the Dunning-Kruger effect, and cognitive dissonance shape what we think we know and shares ideas on how we can replace our biases with something more valuable and powerful. Spoiler: That something is knowledge.

HOW NFTS IS BUILDING THE INTERNET OF THE FUTURE
By Kayvon Tehranian

NFTs are the building blocks of the Internet of the future, says technologist Kayvon Tehranian, CEO of Foundation, a platform that allows creators to monetize their work. He argues that information wants to be free and that NFTs, digital assets that represent a certificate of ownership on the internet, put economic power and control back into the hands of creators instead of technology platforms. Smart contracts built into NFTs allow royalties to flow instantly to creators.

WHY ACCOUNTANTS WILL SOLVE CLIMATE CHANGE
By Kenneth Van den Bergh

Just as we need financial accountants to manage our monetary budgets, we need carbon accountants to help us manage our carbon budgets, says entrepreneur Kenneth Van den Bergh. Investors and governments are now investing their money in greener businesses; he argues that this is what carbon accounting can accelerate. But he needs more work; with financial accounting there are clear rules and standards, while carbon accounting still lacks such rules and most companies still do not disclose their carbon footprint.

HOW to get everyone to care about a green economy
By Angèle François

Climate advocate and economist Angela Francis discusses how we can get people to put the environment higher on their priority lists during this 11-minute lecture. His answer: no. Instead, we get them to care about improving their own lives, a notion she illustrates using examples from her home country, the UK.

THE ART OF STRESS-FREE PRODUCTIVITY
By Dave Allen

This 22-minute lecture offers stories and tips on how to move forward. “Getting things done is not getting things done,” Allen says. This is an appropriate commitment. Things only worry you because you still have to think about them. He offers three key principles to follow to achieve productivity through what he calls paradoxes. The key problem is the lack of psychic bandwidth to think about.

6 BIG ETHICAL ISSUES ABOUT THE FUTURE OF AI
By Geneviève Bell

Australian ethical AI expert Genevieve Bell says AI isn’t “the Terminator,” it’s all around us, in buildings, in elevators and beyond. We don’t create a single AI, she says, we create possibilities for many. It presents six questions that should frame our approach to evolving AI.

STAY IN KNOWLEDGE

Discover CPA Canada’s new podcast series on how CPAs can ensure the sustainability of the accountancy profession, take the time to read these seven business books and watch these films that highlight some of the big issues facing the accounting profession. accounting world is facing today. Plus, see what’s in store for CPAs and the industry with CPA Canada’s Foresight: Rethinking the Profession.