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Gen Z students boo AI talk at graduation, signaling widespread anxiety
🇦🇷 Argentina /Culture & Society

Gen Z students boo AI talk at graduation, signaling widespread anxiety

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • Gen Z students at the University of Arizona booed former Google CEO Eric Schmidt when he spoke about artificial intelligence.
  • A 2026 Gallup poll shows only 22% of Gen Z feel enthusiastic about AI, with 42% feeling anxious.
  • Experts suggest that communicating AI's benefits requires acknowledging fears, showing concrete examples, and empowering audiences to participate in its design.

Thousands of University of Arizona students booed former Google CEO Eric Schmidt when he mentioned artificial intelligence during a commencement speech on May 15. The collective jeers, which grew louder with each mention of AI, signaled a broader trend of apprehension toward the technology among young people.

When someone offers you a seat on a rocket ship, don’t ask what seat. Just get on.

— Eric SchmidtSchmidt used this decades-old quote in an attempt to encourage students to embrace AI, but it was met with the loudest boos of the night.

A 2026 Gallup poll corroborates this sentiment, revealing that only 22% of Generation Z feel enthusiastic about AI, while 42% express anxiety. This indicates that the most digitally connected generation is rejecting corporate narratives that seem disconnected from their lived realities.

Experts like Ethan Mollick, a professor at Wharton, emphasize that effectively communicating AI's potential requires a different approach. Instead of evangelizing, Mollick suggests starting by naming and validating people's fears before presenting opportunities. This honest acknowledgment can lower defenses and foster understanding.

When someone offers you a seat on a rocket ship, don’t ask what seat. Just get on.

— Eric SchmidtSchmidt used this decades-old quote in an attempt to encourage students to embrace AI, but it was met with the loudest boos of the night.

Furthermore, the article highlights the importance of showcasing concrete use cases rather than grand metaphors. Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy, built his case for AI in education by demonstrating its practical application with a live demo, focusing on how it helps students learn better. This contrasts with vague promises about the future.

The fears are valid.

— Ethan MollickMollick, a professor at Wharton, is cited as an example of how to communicate AI by acknowledging fears, which helps audiences feel understood.

Finally, empowering the audience is crucial. The message that "AI will change everything and there's no escape" may be factually accurate but is communicatively damaging. People are motivated by the possibility of shaping the future, not by a sense of inevitable destiny. The article concludes that individuals across all generations need to see that they have a role in designing what comes next, viewing AI as a material to be shaped rather than a predetermined outcome.

AI will change everything and there's no escape.

— UnknownThis type of message is described as communicatively harmful, as it promotes resignation rather than agency.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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