Commencement speakers face backlash over discussions of artificial intelligence

May 17, 2026

AI Summary

During recent commencement speeches, some speakers encountered negative reactions from graduates when discussing artificial intelligence. Gloria Caulfield and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt both faced booing from students, reflecting a broader sentiment of anxiety about the future among young people.

Commencement speeches this year have seen pushback from students regarding discussions on artificial intelligence (AI).
Gloria Caulfield, an executive at Tavistock Development Company, faced booing at the University of Central Florida after calling AI the next industrial revolution.
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt also received boos at the University of Arizona when he mentioned students' role in shaping AI, amidst prior controversy surrounding allegations against him.
In contrast, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang did not face similar backlash when discussing AI at Carnegie Mellon.
A Gallup poll indicates that only 43% of Americans aged 15 to 34 feel it is a good time to find a job, a significant decrease from 2022.
Concerns about AI are part of a broader anxiety about job prospects and economic conditions among young people.
Themes of resilience were prevalent in speeches, with speakers acknowledging fears about the future and the challenges facing the younger generation.

commencement speechgraduationartificial intelligencefuturestudent engagement

Commencement speakers face backlash over discussions of artificial intelligence

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