Video: 2m:40s
What to know
- From Arizona to Florida, graduates booed commencement speakers for discussing artificial intelligence as a positive development for society.
- At the University of Arizona, students booed former Google CEO Eric Schmidt as he spoke about AI. "If you don't care about science, that's okay because AI is going to touch everything else as well. Whatever path you choose, AI will become part of how work is done."
- In a PBS News/NPR/Marist poll taken in early March 2026, 85% of Americans said it is likely that AI-generated political content will spread misinformation about November's elections.
Why it matters
Graduates remain fearful about AI taking jobs away from them. According to a Pew Research Center survey last June, half of U.S. adults said the growing use of AI in everyday life made them feel more concerned than excited.
Discussion questions
- Scott Borchetta, CEO of Big Machine Records, told the graduates: "Deal with it," in response to their boos. Why do you think the speakers seemed surprised at the reaction from the students? How do you think the speakers should have reacted to the boos from the graduates? What about the comportment of the students — were they right to boo? Explain.
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