Kara Swisher, a seasoned figure in tech journalism, recently embarked on a book tour for her career memoir, "Burn Book." While the release of her memoir is eagerly anticipated, the choice of moderators for the tour contradicts the narrative suggested by the book.

Swisher has established an impressive brand over three decades, progressing from a reporter at The Washington Post to The Wall Street Journal's Internet reporter. She co-founded the All Things D Conference and website with tech reviewer Walt Mossberg.

An Ironic Choice of Moderators

Swisher has chosen to promote her latest project with the support of famous friends like Don Lemon and Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey. However, the selection of tech-world executives as moderators for her book tour has raised eyebrows.

Executives such as Laurene Powell Jobs, Disney CEO Bob Iger, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, and Lean In board member Adam Grant were chosen to interview Swisher on stage during her tour. This decision seems contradictory, considering Swisher's reported disillusionment with many tech executives, as hinted in her memoir.

Despite Swisher's concerns about the mainstream media's decline and the potential havoc caused by the A.I. race, her choice to align with tech executives has raised questions. The optics of her association with figures like Altman, known for controversial practices, and others whose actions have impacted media outlets seem contradictory to the purpose of her memoir.

"Burn Book," with its "Mean Girls"-inspired title, is expected to deliver insider jabs at media barons and tech disruptors. Swisher, a pivotal figure in chronicling the evolution of the World Wide Web and journalism's digital transition, offers a unique perspective on the tech industry's shiniest and ugliest developments.

Swisher's nonchalant response to AI-generated replicas of "Burn Book" on Amazon also sparked criticism. While other authors struggled with the impact of such replicas on sales and reputation, Swisher's seemingly carefree attitude added to the controversy surrounding her promotional choices.

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A Critique on Tech Leaders

Speaking with NPR, Swisher emphasizes holding tech leaders to a higher standard because they proclaim ambitious goals of changing the world and making it a better place. She highlights their ambitious aspirations to be change-makers, a viewpoint less common among individuals in sectors such as Wall Street or pharmaceuticals.

In her book, Swisher discusses how individuals like Mark Zuckerberg, who acquired significant power, may find themselves inadequately prepared for the associated responsibilities. In a 2018 podcast interview with Zuckerberg, Swisher noted his controversial stance on hosting content by Holocaust deniers and observed his apparent lack of preparedness for the complexities involved. She criticized Zuckerberg's decision-making, asserting that someone ill-prepared makes decisions that affect diverse groups and unleash negative consequences. 

In her book, Swisher labels Zuckerberg as 'the most damaging man in tech.' In contrast, Elon Musk is deemed the 'most disappointing,' reflecting Swisher's earlier positive perception of him. Initially impressed by Musk's ambitious ventures, such as Tesla, SpaceX, Hyperloop, and Neuralink, Swisher later observed a decline in Musk's behavior. She recounts a falling out in 2022 when Musk responded to one of her tweets with a derogatory remark, followed by Musk associating with far-right voices and embracing conspiracy theories. 

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