Graduation Speakers Address AI Concerns Amid Mixed Reactions from Class of 2026
Graduation ceremonies across the United States for the class of 2026 have seen a notable focus on artificial intelligence (AI), with speakers addressing the topic amid varied reactions from students. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, speaking at the University of Arizona, acknowledged the fears surrounding AI's impact on jobs, climate, and politics, which elicited boos from the audience. Similarly, journalist Fareed Zakaria at Bard College felt the need to issue a 'trigger warning' before discussing AI. The announcement of Chris Duffey, head of Adobe's AI products, as Marquette's commencement speaker sparked backlash even before his arrival. Comedian Conan O'Brien used humor to address AI concerns, suggesting it would replace 'creeps from Princeton' rather than the graduates. Fashion designer Jeremy Scott, speaking at the Kansas City Art Institute, emphasized the importance of human creativity over algorithms. Record executive Scott Borchetta highlighted AI's transformative effect on the music industry, like... 
