All articles tagged with #graduation
Across several U.S. campuses, graduates booed speakers praising AI, signaling a rift between corporate hype and student anxiety that automation could erase entry-level jobs and undermine the value of their degrees, even as tech leaders push for rapid AI adoption.
Two Tennessee high schools, Centennial and Franklin, held outdoor graduation ceremonies on a football field as a torrential downpour soaked graduates and families. Videos of drenched graduates circulated online, drawing criticism from parents who questioned the decision to proceed outdoors and called for a makeup ceremony, while a planned moment of silence for a deceased classmate was reportedly skipped due to the rain. School officials said forecasts and the desire to maximize attendance on campus led to the outdoor plan, though changing conditions prolonged the wet ceremonies.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told West Point cadets in a commencement address that the White House would back their toughest decisions, urged them to prioritize lethality over likability and to ignore past rules of engagement, praised their fitness by saying 'you are fit, not fat,' and floated pardons for minor infractions.
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak told Grand Valley State University graduates they have 'actual intelligence' and expressed AI skepticism, earning applause and contrasting with other AI-focused speeches that drew boos; he urged grads to think differently.
Across several commencements, speakers were booed after mentioning artificial intelligence, fueling a broader debate about AI’s role in society and prompting some schools to reassess what is appropriate to discuss in graduation speeches.
Graduating students across the U.S. booed speakers who framed AI as the future boon, reflecting a real surge of anxiety about how AI will affect entry-level jobs. Data on the Class of 2026 show higher unemployment for grads, a tighter hiring market, and a big spike in searches for entry-level roles, while Gallup finds Gen Z’s excitement about AI waning and concerns about risks outweighing benefits. Experts say the backlash goes beyond a momentary reaction and signals a broader skepticism about AI’s impact on work and creativity.
Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak earned enthusiastic applause at Grand Valley State University's graduation by saying graduates have 'AI — actual intelligence,' offering a measured take on the AI era, reflecting on Apple experiences and encouraging students to think differently as AI reshapes the job market.
Graduates across multiple universities boo and heckle speakers—ranging from former Google CEO Eric Schmidt to other tech leaders—who praise AI at commencements, arguing that AI promises threaten jobs, education, and critical thinking. The viral videos reflect a generation facing a bleak job market and rising environmental and societal concerns around AI, while also fueling activism against AI deployment and data-center projects.
Graduates across the U.S. boo AI-optimistic remarks from speakers at commencements, turning the moment into a broader pushback against tech hype; while some leaders frame AI as a tool reshaping production and jobs, the class’s reaction underscores skepticism about an AI-driven future and the culture of tech-led optimism.
Angelina Jolie supported Zahara at her Spelman College graduation in Atlanta with sons Pax and Knox, while Brad Pitt was absent; Zahara, who earned a BA in psychology, was announced as Zahara Jolie rather than Jolie-Pitt, and her siblings Maddox, Shiloh, and Vivienne did not attend.
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt urged University of Arizona graduates to help shape AI’s future, cautioning that fear of job loss and environmental impact is rational but the work ahead will require their involvement and values; his pitch was met with sustained boos from the crowd, underscoring the friction between corporate AI optimism and students’ concerns at graduation ceremonies.
A report claims Brad Pitt has gone no contact with his daughter Zahara around her graduation, adding to ongoing public scrutiny of Pitt's relationship with his children and the Jolie-Pitt family dynamics.
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt was booed during his University of Arizona commencement speech after mentioning artificial intelligence, highlighting student anxiety about AI’s impact on jobs and study. Schmidt acknowledged the fears as rational and urged graduates to adapt and shape AI’s future, a sentiment echoed by similar reactions at other universities and surveys showing rising concern about AI in education and daily life.
At a UCF graduation, a speaker praised AI as the next industrial revolution, triggering boos and a shout of “AI sucks!” as graduates voice desire for an AI-free future. Meanwhile, Nvidia founder Jensen Huang told Carnegie Mellon grads they’re at a once-in-a-generation moment to reindustrialize America, even as polls show young people are wary of the economy and job prospects.
Country star Eric Church delivered UNC-Chapel Hill’s 2026 commencement address at Kenan Stadium, turning the speech into a guitar-led moment that used a six-string metaphor to frame faith, family, heart, ambition, resilience, and community, followed by a live performance of “Carolina” for the graduates.