University of Arizona students boo Eric Schmidt’s AI cheerleading during commencement

During the University of Arizona’s recent commencement, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt took the stage to deliver the keynote address. When his speech turned to the topic of artificial intelligence, many students responded with loud boos, highlighting growing anxieties about technology’s influence on their futures.

Schmidt acknowledged the crowd’s concerns, admitting that worries about disappearing jobs, climate change, and political instability are valid. He expressed empathy, stating these fears are “rational,” but seemed frustrated as he tried to continue, asking the audience to let him finish his perspective on AI.

The discontent among graduates was not solely about technology—some jeers were directed at Schmidt personally due to past allegations of misconduct. The overall reaction underscored a broader disconnection between Silicon Valley’s enthusiasm for AI and the public’s increasing skepticism about its social impact.

Despite these tensions, Schmidt delivered his message, encouraging students to embrace new opportunities, likening the rise of AI to a rocket ship and urging, “When someone offers you a seat on the rocket ship, you do not ask which seat, you just get on.” Still, such optimism seemed mismatched with the audience’s mood.

Public sentiment toward AI has shifted in recent years, with polls showing more Americans expressing concern about automation and the role technology companies play in everyday life. The incident at the University of Arizona is a strong reminder that not everyone shares Silicon Valley’s excitement for artificial intelligence.

For further details, you can read the original article at The Verge.