Graduates boo AI optimism at multiple US commencements as skepticism grows despite the technology's corporate momentum

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt faced a chorus of boos when telling University of Arizona graduates their task is to help shape AI. Graduates at University of Central Florida and Middle Tennessee State University also jeered at AI pep talks at their ceremonies.

Schmidt acknowledged that graduate fears about disappearing jobs and a broken future were "rational," recognizing the tension between AI industry enthusiasm and public concern.

Despite the skepticism, OpenAI has continued winning court cases, raising enormous sums of money, and launching new partnerships. Actor Reese Witherspoon has also emerged as an unlikely cheerleader, warning women to embrace AI or be replaced by it.