Data is the New Addiction | Dr. Kunal Sarkar | TEDxIEM Salt Lake

Are we trading genuine human connection for a constant stream of digital notifications? In this talk, a heart surgeon compares modern data addiction to historic epidemics like tobacco and drug abuse, warning that isolation in the digital age poses a severe threat to our physical and mental well-being. He emphasizes that despite living in a hyper-connected world, true companionship and judicious data consumption are essential to navigate an increasingly isolated, AI-driven future. With over three decades of experience in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, Dr. Kunal Sarkar is one of India’s leading cardiac surgeons, having performed over 40,000 heart surgeries, including more than 32,000 bypass procedures. A Fellow of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Glasgow, he has also served as President of the Indian Association of Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgeons. His expertise spans complex coronary surgery, minimally invasive cardiac surgery and advanced cardiovascular care. 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