The sound of graduating from college in the AI summer of 2026: boo!

Source Domain: fortune.com

At several college commencements, graduates have expressed their anxiety about artificial intelligence (AI) by booing speakers who bring up the topic of AI’s impact on job prospects.
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt faced jeers during his keynote address to University of Arizona graduates when he discussed AI potentially affecting every aspect of life and job markets.
Surveys from the Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics and Gallup show that a majority of college students view AI as a job threat and that younger generations are increasingly wary of its implications.
Despite attempts by speakers like Gloria Caulfield and Scott Borchetta to frame AI as a beneficial tool, reactions from students at various universities have been largely negative.
Part of the negative sentiment toward AI during commencement speeches can be linked to the existing tough job market for new graduates, which exacerbates students’ fears about their future careers.
Some students felt even more disheartened by AI-related content at their graduations, seeing it as an unwelcome reminder of the tough job prospects facing their cohort.

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