The sound of graduating from college in the AI summer of 2026: boo!
Graduating college students are expressing their concerns about artificial intelligence during commencement speeches, often interrupting speakers with boos. Many students feel that discussions about AI are tone-deaf given their fears about job prospects in an AI-driven future. Polls indicate a significant portion of students view AI as a threat to their career plans, contributing to the backlash against speakers who promote the technology.
- ▪Graduates at several universities have booed speakers discussing AI during commencement ceremonies.
- ▪About 70% of college students perceive AI as a threat to their job prospects, according to a Harvard poll.
- ▪The unemployment rate for college graduates aged 22 to 27 has reached its highest level in twelve years.
4 outlets in our directory ran this story, first to last over 22 hours. All of the coverage we found sits in one bucket: centre. That one-sidedness is itself worth noticing.
- ▪ Graduates are booing pep talks on AI at college commencements — Korea Times
- ▪ Graduates are booing pep talks on AI at college commencements — Boston 25 News
- ▪ Graduates are booing pep talks on AI at college commencements — AP News
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
As artificial intelligence casts a shadow over career prospects, it is becoming an unwelcome subject at this season’s college commencements. At several campuses, graduates have interrupted speakers with stadium-wide boos when the topic turned to AI.Recommended Video Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt faced repeated jeers over the weekend during his keynote address to about 10,000 University of Arizona graduates on the rise of AI. “It will touch every profession, every classroom, every hospital, every laboratory, every person and every relationship you have,” Schmidt said, as booing began to build in the audience. “I know what many of you are feeling about that. I can hear you,” Schmidt responded as the boos continued.
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