The Vienna Humanities Festival 2026 brings together some of today’s brightest minds to explore how we can assert human agency in the face of catastrophe, and navigate an ever more confusing world.

Kara Swisher opens this year’s festival as its first Keynote Speaker at the TU Wien Kuppelsaal.

About the Event

When?

Wednesday, 23 September 2026
6:30 – 7:30 PM
(18:30) CEST

Where?

TU Wien, Campus Karlsplatz, Kuppelsaal
1040 Vienna, Karlsplatz 13
4.Stock, Raum AA0448

A map to the location can be found on TU Maps.

Abstract

AI and the “tech bros” are changing our world at an unprecedented pace. Kara Swisher has known all the big beasts of Silicon Valley for years, making her well-placed to analyze who they are, their true intentions, and what AI is doing to humans. She is unsparing in her criticism, unfailing in her analysis, and always extremely funny. She hosts one of the US’s most popular podcasts, and although she maintains her distance from them, the tech bros and their acolytes all tune in. In conversation with former IWM rector Misha Glenny, Swisher offers a rare insight into where technology is taking us and how much those at the helm of this revolution really understand the implications of their work.

Registration

Please register for this event at https://civi.iwm.at/form/vhf-2026-swisher-waiting-list.

For more information about the event, visit https://www.humanitiesfestival.at/swisher.