Student commencement boos are a sign of wider AI woes

At least three U.S. college commencement ceremonies this month saw graduates boo speakers advocating for AI integration, signaling growing student resistance. Vice President JD Vance addressed the trend during a speech at the U.S. Air Force Academy, acknowledging the disconnect between business leaders’ AI enthusiasm and students’ anxieties over job security, creativity, and education. Student groups like PauseAI US, with five university chapters, push for pausing advanced AI development until safety measures are in place. Executive Director Holly Elmore noted students feel AI threatens academic integrity and future stability, with faculty sometimes encouraging AI use for assignments. A Gallup poll from October revealed 57% of U.S. college students use AI weekly, primarily for understanding coursework and checking homework answers. PauseAI US chapters organize discussions on AI risks and legislative regulation, while other campus groups focus on technical AI safety research. For example, the University of California, Santa Barbara’s chapter leader, Nickolas Spiliotopoulos, emphasized regulating AI to preserve critical thinking and political engagement. Meanwhile, AI companies like Anthropic are expanding campus presence through clubs promoting their products, such as Claude AI. Students like UC Berkeley’s Paul Webster criticize AI’s role in undermining deep learning, where professors encouraged its use for assignments, hindering genuine understanding. The backlash reflects broader concerns: students fear AI will replace human jobs, stifle creativity, and erode educational standards. Groups like Georgetown University’s AI safety initiatives highlight the tension between rapid AI advancement and ethical, student-driven oversight.