Tech CEOs Booed at Graduation Speeches as AI Job Fears Grow

As AI technology advances rapidly, US college graduates are increasingly worried about their job prospects. Recently, several tech and business executives were booed during commencement speeches for being too optimistic about AI. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt faced jeers at the University of Arizona, while Big Machine Records CEO Scott Borchetta upset students at Middle Tennessee State University by discussing AI's impact on the music industry. Google CEO Sundar Pichai will speak at Stanford next month. He said in an interview he understands young people's anxiety, calling AI both an opportunity and a challenge for graduates. A Pew Research survey found about half of Americans are more worried than excited about AI entering daily life. At least a dozen major US companies have cited AI efficiency as a reason for layoffs this year. AI also makes job hunting longer and more complicated. US graduate unemployment hit a four-year high in early 2026. Pichai said people's anxiety about AI is totally understandable, as humans haven't evolved to handle such rapid change. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang offered a different view at Carnegie Mellon's ceremony, saying AI will ultimately benefit society and encouraging young people to seize the opportunity.