Why College Students Are Booing AI

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/05/ai-graduation-speeches-booing/687266/

Publish Date: 2026-05-23 07:00:00

Here are 6 key points summarizing the article:

– College students have booed commencement speakers who mentioned artificial intelligence, with incidents at universities including the University of Central Florida, University of Arizona, and Middle Tennessee State University.

– The public and media interpreted the boos as a sign of students’ general opposition to AI, but the author cautions against jumping to conclusions.

– The author argues that AI just exposes wider issues within higher education, like bureaucratic institutions, overemphasis on achievement, and a culture of cutting corners.

– Scott Borchetta, the commencement speaker at Middle Tennessee State University who was booed, framed AI like streaming did for the music industry – an unwelcome but powerful force that must be adapted to, not resisted.

– The author suggests the boos likely express frustration with the changing creative landscape in the 21st century, not simply opposition to AI per se.

– In summary, the author believes oversimplified narratives about “students hating AI” ignore the complex, systemic issues at play that the technology just highlights.