‘I can hear you’: Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt is now the third graduation speaker to be booed this month for praising AI in his speech

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt became the third graduation speaker this month to be booed after praising artificial intelligence during a commencement address at the University of Arizona. When Schmidt told graduates that AI would ‘shape the world,’ parts of the crowd erupted in boos, prompting him to acknowledge the hostility by saying, ‘I can hear you.’ Earlier this spring, similar reactions occurred at other universities. At the University of Central Florida, real estate executive Gloria Caulfield was booed for calling AI ‘the next industrial revolution,’ while at Middle Tennessee State University, Big Machine Records CEO Scott Borchetta faced backlash for discussing AI’s role in music and business. The student pushback reflects broader concerns about AI’s impact on employment. Tech companies have promoted AI as a tool to automate tasks, leaving many graduates worried about job security in a competitive labor market. A Gallup-Lumina study found that 57% of college students use AI tools weekly or daily for coursework, yet half report schools discourage or prohibit its use, creating conflicting signals about AI’s role in education and the workforce. Public skepticism toward AI is also rising. A Pew Research Center survey revealed that half of Americans are now ‘more concerned than excited’ about AI’s growing influence, while only 10% say they are more excited than concerned. The mixed messaging—from schools warning against AI in academics while CEOs emphasize its necessity for career success—has intensified student frustration and unease about the technology’s future.