Graduates increasingly boo speakers who praise AI at commencements

In short: More US graduation ceremonies in 2024 and 2025 have seen students boo when commencement speakers talk positively about artificial intelligence.

What's going on

Reports described a noticeable pattern at some commencement ceremonies, where large groups of graduating students reacted negatively when speakers mentioned artificial intelligence, often called AI (computer systems that can write, summarize, or make images, like a fast assistant).

One widely cited example came from the University of Arizona, where Eric Schmidt, a former Google CEO and a major investor in AI, was booed multiple times after bringing up AI in his speech. Other ceremonies have had similar reactions, including groans or boos when speakers framed AI as an exciting opportunity for new graduates.

The New York Times recently referenced this mood with a line that AI mentions usually draw boos in big crowds, and that a non-booing crowd now stands out. That line reads more like commentary than a measured statistic, but it points to a real shift in how some young audiences respond to upbeat AI talk.

What to watch

Graduation speakers may start changing how they talk about AI, by addressing job fears directly instead of only praising the technology. Schools and employers may also face more pressure to explain how AI will affect entry-level work, pay, and training, since graduates are signaling they want specifics, not slogans.

Source: NYTimes