Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt faced repeated boos during a commencement speech at the University of Arizona after comparing the rise of artificial intelligence to the technological revolution sparked by computers.
Speaking to graduates on Sunday, Schmidt reflected on his own student years and the rapid evolution of technology, beginning with the personal computer, which Time magazine famously named “Person of the Year” in 1982.
He described how computers evolved into laptops and smartphones, transforming communication through the internet and social media.
While praising technology for helping connect people, democratize knowledge, and reduce poverty, Schmidt also acknowledged its negative effects on society.
“The same platforms that gave everyone a voice also degraded the public square,” Schmidt told the audience. “They rewarded outrage. They amplified our worst instincts.”
The atmosphere shifted sharply when Schmidt began discussing artificial intelligence and compared its emergence to the transformative impact of computers. Many graduates responded with loud boos and jeers.
“I know what many of you are feeling about that. I can hear you,” Schmidt said as the crowd reacted. He acknowledged fears among younger generations that artificial intelligence could eliminate jobs, worsen inequality, intensify political division, and deepen uncertainty about the future.
“There is a fear in your generation that the future has already been written, that the machines are coming, that the jobs are evaporating, that the climate is breaking, that politics is fractured, and that you are inheriting a mess that you did not create,” he said.
Schmidt argued that the future of AI is not predetermined and insisted that the graduating class still has the ability to influence how the technology develops and is used.
His calls for open debate, diversity of perspectives, and support for immigration also drew mixed reactions from the audience.
“If you’d let me make this point, please,” Schmidt said while attempting to continue his remarks amid ongoing boos. He stressed that America benefits when ambitious immigrants come to the country and contribute to innovation and progress.
Schmidt concluded his speech by encouraging graduates to shape the future rather than fear it.
“The future is not yet finished. It is now your turn to shape it,” he said.
A spokesperson for the University of Arizona defended the decision to invite Schmidt, citing his leadership in technology, philanthropy, and scientific research.
The incident reflects growing public anxiety over artificial intelligence, particularly among younger people concerned about automation, employment, and the broader social consequences of rapidly advancing technology.
Schmidt’s experience was not isolated. Earlier this month, another commencement speaker at the University of Central Florida was also booed after describing artificial intelligence as “the next industrial revolution.”