As the class of 2026 embarks on their journey into the unknown, a growing trend has emerged: commencement speakers who dare to mention artificial intelligence are being met with resistance, even outright hostility. This phenomenon is not just a passing fad, but rather a symptom of a broader societal unease about the impact of AI on the future of work and the world at large.
Recent incidents at the University of Central Florida and the University of Arizona have highlighted the tensions surrounding AI. At the former, Gloria Caulfield, an executive at Tavistock Development Company, attempted to frame the rise of AI as an exciting development, only to be booed by the audience. Similarly, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt faced a similar response when he told students that they would help shape the future of AI. While some might view these reactions as simply a case of youthful rebellion, they are, in fact, a manifestation of a deeper anxiety about the role of AI in shaping the future.
The Underlying Concerns
According to a recent Gallup poll, only 43% of Americans aged 15 to 34 believe that it's a good time to find a job locally, a steep decline from 75% in 2022. This pessimism is not solely driven by the rise of AI, but it is certainly a contributing factor. As journalist and tech industry critic Brian Merchant astutely observed, AI has become "the cruel new face of hyper-scaling capitalism," leaving many young people feeling disillusioned and disenfranchised. The fact that even respected figures like Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang can discuss AI without facing significant pushback suggests that the issue is not AI per se, but rather the perceived implications of its rise.
The booing and criticism directed at commencement speakers like Caulfield and Schmidt are not just about AI, but about the sense of disempowerment and disillusionment that many young people feel when confronted with the prospect of a future dominated by machines. As one graduate, Alexander Rose Tyson, told The New York Times, "It wasn't one person that really started the booing. It was just sort of like a collective, 'This sucks.'" This sentiment reflects a deeper concern about the kind of world that AI is creating, and the role that young people will play in it.
