Recent college graduates in the US have expressed anger towards commencement speakers who promote artificial intelligence (AI), viewing it as a threat to their career prospects. At Middle Tennessee State University, students booed Scott Borchetta, CEO of Big Machine Records, after he told them to 'deal with' AI's transformative impact on industries. Jacob Pagel, a graduate, described the remarks as 'a knife to the chest'.
A 2025 Harvard poll found that a majority of young Americans see AI as a threat to their careers. Graduates feel betrayed after being pushed to earn degrees, only to face a job market where AI is used to justify layoffs. Similar incidents occurred at the University of Central Florida and the University of Arizona, where students booed speakers comparing AI to the Industrial Revolution.
Sarah Kreps, a Cornell professor, said tech executives are 'not reading the room', as students have spent significant sums on degrees that may not serve them well. A national NBC News poll found only 26% of registered voters view AI positively, with 46% viewing it negatively. Anger against AI is widespread, from protests against datacenters to disputes over CEOs' claims that AI can replace workers.
Pagel is considering careers in healthcare or politics, areas he believes require human interaction. He uses Grammarly but remains cautious about AI. MTSU stated it understands students' concerns. Parry Headrick of Crackle PR advised executives to acknowledge anxieties rather than dismiss them, calling such speeches 'preventable PR disasters'.
