Graduates are booing pep talks on AI at college commencements
AP News • • general
Key Points:
- Artificial intelligence has become a contentious topic at recent college commencements, with graduates booing keynote speakers who discuss AI’s impact on future careers.
- Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and other speakers faced jeers when addressing AI’s pervasive influence, as students expressed fear and frustration over AI threatening job prospects.
- Surveys reveal that about 70% of college students view AI as a threat to their careers, with growing anxiety and declining optimism among Generation Z regarding AI’s role in the workforce.
- Students criticized speakers for being tone deaf, especially as many campuses restrict AI use in academics while speakers promote it, exacerbating students’ concerns amid a challenging job market.
- Graduates are entering a difficult employment environment, with the highest unemployment rates in over a decade for recent college graduates, intensifying their apprehension about AI and future job security.