Google billionaire Eric Schmidt booed over AI comments at graduation speech

"Schmidt, who was Google's CEO from 2001 through 2011 before serving as its executive chairman for four years, told graduates that they will "help shape artificial intelligence." He pivoted to the subject of AI after a discussion of developments in computer technology. At the mention of AI, the jeers began. "I know what many of you are feeling about that," Schmidt said, responding to the crowd. "I can hear you.""

""If you don't care about science, that's OK, because AI is going to touch everything else as well," Schmidt said at one point in his speech, prompting another loud wave of boos. "Whatever path you choose, AI will become part of how the work is done." "You can now assemble a team of AI agents to help you with the parts that you could never accomplish on your own," he said at another moment."

""When someone offers you a seat on the rocket ship, you do not ask which seat. You just get on." The boos were prominent enough that at one point, the executive had to pause to finish a statement. "If you'd let me make this point, please," he said, interrupting himself. Despite the negative reaction, Schmidt pressed onward."

"Schmidt, whose net worth is $43 billion according to Forbes, drew controversy before he took to the podium. Prior to Schmidt's speech, some University of Arizona students launched a petition calling for the university to choose a different speaker. A former girlfriend and business partner of Schmidt's has accused him of sexual assault in a lawsuit. Schmidt has denied the allegations, and the lawsuit entered private arbitration in March."

Eric Schmidt was booed repeatedly after mentioning artificial intelligence during a University of Arizona commencement speech. He told graduates they would help shape artificial intelligence and said AI would touch everything else, regardless of whether they cared about science. He added that AI would become part of how work is done and described assembling teams of AI agents to handle tasks that individuals could not accomplish alone. He compared accepting an opportunity to getting on a rocket ship without asking which seat. The crowd’s reaction was strong enough to interrupt his remarks, and he paused to continue his point. The event also followed prior controversy involving student efforts to change the speaker and allegations of sexual assault that Schmidt denied.

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