Trending Now - Graduates Jeer Eric Schmidt Over AI Remarks at Commencement

WHO:

The Guardian - Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google, spoke to as many as 10,000 graduating University of Arizona students.

BBC - Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google, was booed by graduates.

WHAT:

BBC - A survey by the Pew Research Center indicates that 50% of American adults are "more concerned than excited" about the increasing use of AI in daily life, while only 10% are "more excited than concerned."

The Guardian - Schmidt's speech was met with boos when he acknowledged fears that AI threatened to deprive people now entering the workforce of a future.

The Guardian - The student body’s response to Schmidt’s remarks comes days after students graduating from the University of Central Florida booed Gloria Caulfield when she spoke about AI and its implications.

The Guardian - Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, told graduates at Carnegie Mellon University that AI will be a net positive for humanity and that new opportunities would favor young people, stating, “AI is not likely to replace you, but someone using AI better than you might.”

The Guardian - Schmidt stated, “We thought that we were adding stones to a cathedral of knowledge that humanity had been constructing for centuries, but the world we built turned out to be more complicated than we anticipated.”

The Guardian - Schmidt acknowledged, “There is a fear in your generation that the future has already been written, that the machines are coming, that the jobs are evaporating, that the climate is breaking, that politics are fractured, and that you are inheriting a mess that you did not create.”

The Guardian - A spokesperson for the University of Arizona confirmed that Schmidt was invited for his “extraordinary” contributions to tech and innovation.

The Guardian - Schmidt was booed when he stated, “I know what many of you are feeling about that. I can hear you. There is a fear.”

The Guardian - Schmidt mentioned that the same tools that connect people also isolate them, stating, “The same platforms that gave everyone a voice – like you’re using now – degraded the public square.”

The Guardian - Schmidt acknowledged that students' fears about AI were “rational” and encouraged them to adapt and shape how AI will be used in the future.

The Guardian - Schmidt stated, “The question is not whether AI will shape the world. It will. The question is whether you will have shaped artificial intelligence.”

Semafor - Polls show that 70% of Americans think AI is moving too fast, over 50% have negative views of it, and just 18% of young people say they feel hopeful about it.

Semafor - Vaishali Hireraddi, a 23-year-old University of California, Davis graduate student, stated, “Every other day, a new AI agent is being released in the market,” expressing concern about her job prospects after applying to 500 jobs.

The Guardian - Schmidt stated, “I know what many of you are feeling about that. I can hear you. There is a fear.”

The Guardian - Schmidt's speech was met with boos when he acknowledged fears that AI threatened to deprive people now entering the workforce of a future.

The Guardian - Schmidt mentioned that the topic of AI struck a nerve of anxiety within the student body when he traced technology’s evolution from the laptop to the smartphone, the internet, and social media.

The Guardian - Schmidt stated, “That was not the plan, but it happened,” referring to the unsettling impact of information technologies, including AI, on young people.

The Guardian - Schmidt's remarks were met with boos when he acknowledged fears that AI threatened to deprive new entrants to the workforce of a future.

The Guardian - A spokesperson for the University of Arizona confirmed that Schmidt was invited for his “extraordinary” contributions to tech and innovation.

The Guardian - Schmidt stated, “The same tools that connect us also isolate us. The same platforms that gave everyone a voice – like you’re using now – degraded the public square,” referring to the polarization within democracies.

The Guardian - Schmidt acknowledged that their fears were “rational” and encouraged graduates to adapt and to shape how AI will be used in the future.

The Guardian - A spokesperson for the University of Arizona stated that Schmidt had been invited for his “extraordinary” contributions to tech and innovation.

BBC - Graduates reacted negatively to Schmidt's remarks about artificial intelligence (AI) during a commencement speech.

BBC - A survey by the Pew Research Center indicated that 50% of American adults are "more concerned than excited" about the increasing use of AI, while only 10% are "more excited than concerned."

WHY:

The Guardian - The negative reaction from students underscores a growing anxiety over AI's impact on jobs and their future careers.

The Guardian - The negative reaction from students highlights a growing anxiety over AI's impact on jobs and their future careers, as evidenced by the boos during Schmidt's speech.

The Guardian - The negative reaction from students underscores a growing anxiety over AI's impact on jobs and their future careers, as evidenced by the boos during Schmidt's speech.

The Guardian - The negative reaction from students underscores a growing anxiety over AI's impact on jobs and their future careers.

BBC - The negative reaction from graduates highlights growing anxiety over AI's impact on jobs and future careers.

HOW:

The Guardian - Schmidt encouraged graduates to adapt and shape how AI will be used in the future, stating, “The question is not whether AI will shape the world. It will. The question is whether you will have shaped artificial intelligence.”

(UPDATED May 19, 2026 16:05 UTC)

A recent survey by the Pew Research Center reveals that half of American adults feel "more concerned than excited" about the growing presence of AI in their lives, while only ten percent express the opposite sentiment. This comes amid a backdrop of mixed reactions at graduation ceremonies, where students at the University of Central Florida booed Gloria Caulfield for discussing AI's implications, and boos were also directed at Schmidt when he highlighted fears that AI could impact future job prospects. In contrast, Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, reassured graduates at Carnegie Mellon University that AI will ultimately benefit humanity, emphasizing that the key to success will be adapting to the technology rather than fearing it.

(UPDATED May 19, 2026 13:53 UTC)

In a recent address, Schmidt reflected on the complexities of the technological world, stating, “We thought that we were adding stones to a cathedral of knowledge that humanity had been constructing for centuries, but the world we built turned out to be more complicated than we anticipated.” He acknowledged the fears of the younger generation regarding the future, highlighting concerns about jobs disappearing, climate challenges, and fractured politics, which they feel they are inheriting. Encouraging graduates to take an active role, Schmidt emphasized that while AI will undoubtedly shape the world, the real question is whether they will influence how artificial intelligence is developed and utilized.

(UPDATED May 19, 2026 11:53 UTC)

In a recent speech, Schmidt faced boos from students as he acknowledged their fears about artificial intelligence, calling those concerns "rational." He emphasized that while AI will undoubtedly shape the world, it is crucial for individuals to take an active role in determining how it will be used, urging graduates to adapt and influence its development. Schmidt pointed out that the same platforms that connect people can also isolate them, highlighting the dual nature of technology in today's society.

(UPDATED May 19, 2026 06:19 UTC)

Polls indicate that a significant 70% of Americans believe artificial intelligence is advancing too quickly, with over half holding negative views about it, while only 18% of young people express hope for the technology. Vaishali Hireraddi, a 23-year-old graduate student from the University of California, Davis, voiced her concerns about the rapid pace of AI development, noting that “every other day, a new AI agent is being released in the market.” She also shared her worries about job prospects after applying to 500 positions, reflecting the anxiety many feel in the face of this technological shift.

(UPDATED May 19, 2026 01:34 UTC)

In a recent speech, Schmidt addressed students' fears about the impact of AI on their future careers, acknowledging the anxiety that resonated within the audience when he discussed the evolution of technology. His remarks were met with boos, reflecting a growing concern among students about how AI might affect their job prospects. Despite the negative reaction, Schmidt encouraged graduates to take an active role in shaping the future of artificial intelligence, emphasizing that the real question is not if AI will influence the world, but whether they will influence AI.

(UPDATED May 18, 2026 23:19 UTC)

In a recent speech, Schmidt acknowledged the unsettling impact of information technologies, including AI, on young people, stating, “That was not the plan, but it happened,” which drew boos from the audience when he mentioned fears about AI threatening job prospects for new entrants to the workforce. A spokesperson for the University of Arizona confirmed that Schmidt was invited for his extraordinary contributions to tech and innovation, but the negative reaction from students highlights their growing anxiety over AI's effects on their future careers. Encouraging graduates to take an active role, Schmidt emphasized, “The question is not whether AI will shape the world. It will. The question is whether you will have shaped artificial intelligence.”

(UPDATED May 18, 2026 21:20 UTC)

In a recent address, Schmidt highlighted the dual nature of technology, stating, “The same tools that connect us also isolate us,” as he discussed the growing polarization within democracies. He acknowledged the rational fears surrounding these issues and encouraged graduates to adapt and influence the future use of AI. The University of Arizona invited Schmidt to speak due to his extraordinary contributions to technology and innovation.

(UPDATED May 18, 2026 19:25 UTC)

Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, addressed around 10,000 graduating students at the University of Arizona, sharing his thoughts on the complexities of the world they are stepping into. He acknowledged the fears many in this generation have about the future, including concerns over job security, climate change, and political instability, emphasizing that they are inheriting challenges they did not create. Schmidt encouraged the graduates to take an active role in shaping the future of artificial intelligence, stating, “The question is not whether AI will shape the world. It will. The question is whether you will have shaped artificial intelligence.”

(UPDATED May 18, 2026 17:44 UTC)

During a recent commencement speech, Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, faced a negative reaction from graduates who booed him after his remarks about artificial intelligence. A survey by the Pew Research Center revealed that half of American adults feel "more concerned than excited" about the rise of AI, while only ten percent are "more excited than concerned." This backlash from the graduates underscores the increasing anxiety surrounding AI's potential impact on jobs and future careers.