San Francisco — WIRED is hosting a live-audience recording of its Uncanny Valley podcast this fall, focusing on the complex role of women in the technology industry. The event, part of the publication’s WIRED@Night series, follows the magazine’s recent special issue dedicated to gender and power.
The evening will open with a conversation between WIRED global editorial director Katie Drummond and tech journalist Paulina Borsook. Borsook, known for her 2000 book Cyberselfish which is seeing a rerelease this season, has long critiqued the tech sector. The pair will discuss the evolution of WIRED from the early days of the internet to the present era of trillionaire tech leaders.
Following the opening dialogue, executive editor Brian Barrett and contributing editor Zoë Schiffer will moderate a panel discussion. They will be joined by senior correspondent Lauren Goode, who recently investigated the hierarchy of influence in the Bay Area for her piece, “Searching for Powerful Women in Silicon Valley.” The panel aims to examine the current, often precarious, standing of women within the industry.
While the event will take place in San Francisco, WIRED has arranged a livestream for remote viewers. Additionally, attendees and readers can access recordings of previous Uncanny Valley episodes to familiarize themselves with the podcast’s format.
As someone working in Bay Area tech, this hits close to home. The precarious standing of women is real and needs more visibility.
Is this just another panel for people who already agree? I hope they tackle the uncomfortable questions, not just the surface level stuff.
Paulina Borsook’s rerelease is such a timely move. Her early critiques still feel eerily accurate today.
I’ll take the livestream option, honestly. Traveling to SF for a podcast feels like a lot, even if the topic is crucial.
Finally, WIRED is addressing the power dynamics in tech. Can’t wait to see who else joins the panel discussion.