Slate Magazine | Something Strange Is Happening at College Graduations Across the Country by Nitish Pahwa
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The article reports that graduates of the Class of 2026 are openly rejecting AI hype, repeatedly booing speakers who mention artificial intelligence at commencement ceremonies—from a UCF vice‑president warning of an “AI industrial revolution” to industry leaders like Scott Borchetta, Eric Schmidt and others. Having entered college as ChatGPT went mainstream, these students have spent years witnessing relentless AI promotion alongside its perceived downsides: threatened job prospects, biased algorithms, climate and social‑trust concerns, privacy‑invasive deepfakes, and a commodified gig economy. Consequently, many view AI not as a productivity boost but as a looming impediment to their futures, expressing anger and skepticism toward “AI‑savvy” authority figures, while only those who acknowledge the technology’s limitations and emphasize a human touch—such as Delta CEO Ed Bastian—receive applause. The piece underscores a growing generational backlash against AI’s promises amid uncertainty about employment, ethics, and societal impact.
Read more: https://slate.com/technology/2026/05/ai-college-graduation-speakers-eric-schmidt.html
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