Kara Swisher Explores AI's Impact and Future in Kean University’s President’s Distinguished Lecture Series

Tech journalist, best-selling author and podcast host Kara Swisher brought her trademark insight and wit to Kean University this week as part of the President’s Distinguished Lecture Series, offering an unflinching look at artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on society. 

Swisher spoke before an audience of students, faculty and guests, engaging in a lively discussion moderated by Katherine Gallagher, Kean’s senior vice president for student success. 

Urging those in attendance to stay engaged as technology reshapes industries and society, Swisher addressed the rise of artificial intelligence and its ethical implications, calling on industry leaders to prioritize fairness and accountability as technology advances.  

“Everything requires guardrails,” Swisher said. “AI is not unlike other creations, and you have to make things that are safe for people while not letting safety be the hindrance unnecessarily.” 

Patricia Morreale, Ph.D., chair of the Kean Department of Computer Science and Technology, said Swisher’s message about the ethical dimensions of AI reflected lessons Kean students are learning in the classroom. 

“At Kean, we include AI ethics in each year of the undergraduate computer science, IT and AI curriculum,” Morreale said. “Her reminder that AI ethics are critically important was very timely.” 

Earlier in the day, Swisher took part in a classroom session with Kean students, answering questions about innovation, creativity and the future of work. 

Kean computational science and engineering student Zaire Meachem was eager to hear what Swisher felt the next generation should know about AI. 

Swisher noted that while AI can be powerful, it should never replace critical thinking or interdisciplinary understanding.  

“AI will be an aide and a tool,” she said. “It’s really important to take other courses like history, ethics, politics and philosophy; not to become an expert in them, but to understand them. Too often, technology is taught without recognizing those broader implications.” 

She also encouraged students to stay adaptable and self-driven, emphasizing the importance of curiosity and critical thinking. 

“The power is in knowledge,” she said. “No matter what happens with AI, don’t stop asking questions.” 

A veteran of technology reporting since the 1990s, Swisher co-founded the influential website Recode, was recently honored with a Lifetime Achievement Webby Award, and is the author of Burn Book: A Tech Love Story, a memoir chronicling her decades covering the digital revolution.  

Swisher’s visit came at a time of extraordinary momentum at Kean. This semester, Kean launched New Jersey’s first bachelor’s degree in artificial intelligence, strengthening a growing ecosystem that includes the University’s AI Center of Excellence and other initiatives that are shaping the future of learning and discovery.  

“Her talk was excellent and helped our students understand what is happening with technology and AI, and how it will impact their lives going forward,” Morreale said.  

Upcoming speakers in the President’s Distinguished Lecture Series include Mark A. Tatum, Deputy Commissioner and COO of the NBA, on November 17, and Nate Burleson, Emmy Award-winning analyst and CBS Mornings co-host, on February 12, 2026. For more information, visit www.kean.edu/lectureseries.