As the class of 2026 graduates, they are being met with a message that AI will shape their future, but it’s not being well received. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt was booed by University of Arizona graduates when he told them their task is to help shape AI. Schmidt acknowledged the fears about disappearing jobs and a broken future, calling them rational.

Similar reactions have been seen at other commencements, including the University of Central Florida and Middle Tennessee State University. Despite this skepticism, OpenAI continues to make strides, winning court cases, raising large sums of money, and launching new partnerships.

Some unexpected supporters of AI have emerged, including actress Reese Witherspoon, who has warned women to embrace AI or risk being replaced by it. As the debate around AI’s impact on the future continues, one thing is clear: the class of 2026 is not sold on the idea of AI shaping their future.

Photo by Khalifa Yahaya on Pexels
Photos provided by Pexels