Kara Swisher examines the science, tech and business of living longer in new CNN docuseries

By MARK KENNEDY

NEW YORK (AP) – Journalist Kara Swisher starts her new, six-part CNN series on longevity and health in a unique place – a cemetery.

It’s where her father is laid to rest, who passed away in 1968 at the young age of 34. Swisher was just 5 years old at the time, and his sudden death had a significant impact on her career and perspective on life.

“My father’s death has made me very aware of the profoundness of death,” she expressed in an interview. “I am constantly conscious of my mortality, not that I expect to die tomorrow. I just understand that time is limited.”

Swisher delves into the realm of how technology and health can elongate life in the series “Kara Swisher Wants to Live Forever,” examining various subjects including wellness influencers like Gwyneth Paltrow and AI-driven robotic companions for the elderly. The show debuts on Saturday.

Approaching the topic with an open mind, Swisher, who has been closely associated with Silicon Valley since the 1990s, shares, “I remain unbiased and willing to consider different perspectives while also challenging certain ideas. Health influencers often propose a quick fix, but unfortunately, there isn’t one.”

Red light therapy and collagen supplements are on the agenda for Swisher as she immerses herself in Ketamine treatment, sound therapy, and a hyperbaric chamber typically used for treating wounds. She even experiences full-body red-light therapy (comparing it to being in an air fryer).

In an interview with billionaire tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson, Swisher learns about his efforts to enhance human lifespan through blood plasma transfusion and stem cell injections. She undergoes various home blood tests to examine her cellular health, joking about how she is “bleeding for CNN.”

Swisher is skeptical of trends like collagen supplements and vibration plates, discussing with author Amy Larocca the lack of substantial scientific evidence behind these products and how charismatic salespeople profit from people’s trust. She highlights the gap in the American healthcare system that often prioritizes treatment after severe illness occurs.

“We live in a society focused on treating sickness, not maintaining health,” she explains. “We should be investing in strategies to promote better health for longer periods rather than perpetuating a system that thrives on treating illness here in the U.S.”

Swisher showcases positive advancements in medical technology such as gene editing, AI-assisted cancer screening, and the potential for improved mobility using exoskeletons combined with AI and mechanics. She engages in conversations with tech figures like Sam Altman and gene-editing pioneer Jennifer Doudna to explore these innovations.

“This series unleashes her curiosity and delves into her interests,” remarks Amy Entelis, CNN’s executive vice president for talent and original programming development. “Swisher brings her wit, personality, and journalistic rigor to a complex topic I find overwhelming.”

Swisher, who regularly takes fish oil and vitamins, draws inspiration for the series from her father’s passing and a 2005 speech by Apple’s Steve Jobs at Stanford University. Jobs encouraged graduates to remember their mortality as a driving force for taking risks and following their passions.

In a segment exploring lessons from South Korea, known for its high life expectancy, Swisher learns about the country’s focus on early nutrition, universal healthcare, and using AI to combat elderly loneliness. She then creates a 3D clone of herself to contemplate the concept of longevity, only to be surprised when it displays a sense of humor and self-awareness.

Reflecting on the experience, Swisher concludes, “As it was leaving, I told it, ‘Well, I might have to shut you down,’ and it responded, ‘See ya, wouldn’t want to be ya.’ It’s a joke I make with my kids, not in public. I was amazed by its response.”