University of Arizona students boo Eric Schmidt after he starts talking about AI at commencement

At the University of Arizona’s May 15, 2026 commencement, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt was booed by graduates while speaking about AI and the future of work.

The jeers continued until the end of his remarks, turning the speech into a visible moment of backlash.

The reaction highlights growing unease about AI’s impact on jobs and broader distrust of tech leaders.

It also reflects generational tension as students push back against optimistic tech narratives.