Recent graduates across the United States have expressed anger at commencement speakers who touted artificial intelligence as a transformative tool, with students booing executives they accuse of ignoring their anxieties about job prospects. At Middle Tennessee State University, music executive Scott Borchetta faced jeers after telling graduates that AI is 'rewriting production' and that their skills may already be obsolete. Jacob Pagel, a political science graduate, described the remarks as 'a knife to the chest', reflecting a broader sentiment among young people who see AI as a threat.
A 2025 Harvard poll found that a majority of young Americans view AI as a risk to their careers, as companies use the technology to justify layoffs. Similar incidents occurred at the University of Central Florida and the University of Arizona, where students booed speakers who compared AI to the Industrial Revolution. Sarah Kreps, a Cornell professor, said executives are 'not reading the room', noting that students have invested heavily in degrees they fear may become worthless.
Public opinion on AI is broadly negative: a national NBC News survey found only 26% of registered voters view AI positively, while 46% view it negatively—worse than figures like Donald Trump or Kamala Harris. Protests against AI have also emerged over data centres and job displacement. Pagel, who now considers a career in human-centred fields like politics or child healthcare, says AI cannot replace face-to-face interaction, though he admits using Grammarly for spelling.
Borchetta did not comment, but MTSU said it 'understands and remains compassionate about our students’ concerns'. PR expert Parry Headrick of Crackle PR called such speeches a 'preventable PR disaster', arguing executives should acknowledge anxieties rather than tell students to 'buckle up'.
