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University of Arizona students boo Eric Schmidt’s AI cheerleading during commencement
AI Close AI Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All AI News Close News Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All News Tech Close Tech Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All Tech University of Arizona students boo Eric Schmidt’s AI cheerleading during commencement SiIicon Valley can’t seem to read the room. SiIicon Valley can’t seem to read the room. by Terrence O'Brien Close Terrence O'Brien Weekend Editor Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All by Terrence O'Brien May 17, 2026, 5:22 PM UTC Link Share Gift Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images Terrence O'Brien Close Terrence O'Brien Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All by Terrence O'Brien is the Verge’s weekend editor. He has over 18 years of experience, including 10 years as managing editor at Engadget. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt delivered the commencement address at the University of Arizona on Friday. And, as his speech veered into talk of AI, he was repeatedly drowned out by boos. AI is already a contentious topic, and it’s not surprising that those about to enter a ravaged job market feel particularly negative about it. Schmidt acknowledged the anxiety, according to Business Insider , saying fears “that the machines are coming, that the jobs are evaporating, that the climate is breaking, that politics are fractured, and that you are inheriting a mess that you did not create,” were “rational.” But Schmidt’s frustration was also palpable, as he squirmed behind the podium and asked the crowd to let him make his point. Some grads also booed Schmidt over sexual assault allegations made against him last year. Related Commencement x AI, UCF edition. Commencement x AI, Carnegie Mellon edition. Eventually, he told graduates, “When someone offers you a seat on the rocketship, you do not ask which seat, you just get on.” Such comments are hardly surprising from someone who just last year called AI “ underhyped .” But it’s also just another example of Silicon Valley’s inability to read the room. Gloria Caulfield didn’t get the memo, either. Public opinion has turned increasingly against AI, but companies keep cramming it into every part of our lives, whether we want it or not. Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates. Terrence O'Brien Close Terrence O'Brien Weekend Editor Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All by Terrence O'Brien AI Close AI Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All AI Google Close Google Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All Google News Close News Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All News Tech Close Tech Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All Tech Most Popular Most Popular Microsoft starts canceling Claude Code licenses Chatbots at the drive-thru are just the beginning Microsoft is retiring Teams’ Together Mode Here are 40 of our favorite deals from REI’s massive Anniversary Sale University of Arizona students boo Eric Schmidt’s AI cheerleading during commencement The Verge Daily A free daily digest of the news that matters most. Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Advertiser Content From This is the title for the native ad
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