Stanford graduates walk out during Google CEO's commencement address

Hundreds of Stanford University graduates walked out of their commencement ceremony on Monday, disrupting Google CEO Sundar Pichai's keynote address. The protest, organized by Stanford Students for Justice in Palestine, voiced opposition to Google's role in artificial intelligence expansion and its alleged collaborations with Israel, ICE, and Palantir.

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Shout out to all the graduates who walked out today. To all the graduates who chose conscience rather than comfort, we thank you.

Students held Palestinian flags and signs reading "ICE spies with Google AI" as they left the ceremony. A statement from the organizing group on Instagram thanked the graduates for choosing "conscience rather than comfort." They condemned Google's actions, stating they would not be swayed by financial incentives.

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People thought it would be really difficult for me, it is the last two letters of my last name, after all.

Pichai, a Stanford alumnus, largely appeared to downplay the protest during his speech, making a lighthearted remark about his last name. The number of students participating in the walkout remains unclear, though the protest group claimed it was "hundreds."

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It will touch every profession, every classroom, every hospital, every laboratory, every person and every relationship you have.

This incident echoes similar student-led resistance against tech leaders. In May, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt faced boos during his commencement address at the University of Arizona. Students expressed frustration over the perceived double standard of being penalized for using AI while tech leaders champion its development. Polling data from the Harvard Kennedy School indicates that a significant portion of college students, around 70%, view AI as a threat to their future job prospects.

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I know what many of you are feeling about that. I can hear you.