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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Technology
Sanya Mansoor

US students on why they booed their pro-AI graduation speakers: ‘They’re not reading the room’

A graduate in red cap and gown holds a sign reading 'Who wrote your speech? Chat-GPT?' above a crowd
A person in a graduation cap and gown holds a sign during an address by David Zaslav, president and CEO of Warner Bros Discovery, at a Boston University commencement ceremony on 21 May 2023. Photograph: Steven Senne/AP

When Jacob Pagel graduated from Middle Tennessee State University this spring, predictions about artificial intelligence already had him questioning the value of his degree. Then a music executive started preaching about AI’s transformative power during a commencement speech.

“This industry will change on you in a heartbeat. It has already changed more in the last 10 years than in the 50 years prior … AI is rewriting production as we sit here,” said Scott Borchetta, CEO of the record label Big Machine. After a few stray boos from graduates, he doubled down: “Deal with it.”

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