Google CEO Sundar Pichai says booing graduates will shape AI’s future — and live with its consequences

• Sundar Pichai He is scheduled to speak at Stanford University’s commencement ceremony next month.

• Students booed many executives this year for talking about artificial intelligence in their speeches.

• Pichai is one of the leaders of the AI ​​boom, but he says people are “rightfully” concerned.

Tech CEOs have a lot to manage, from earnings calls to board meetings, competition to employee morale.

Now, in the age of artificial intelligence, they too need a “boo strategy”.

This year, graduates heckled some executives during commencement speeches after corporate leaders made optimistic comments about artificial intelligence. increased anxiety Among students about to enter the job market

Students booed the old Google CEO Eric Schmidt Big Machine Records CEO Scott Borchetta faced backlash at Middle Tennessee State University after discussing the impact of artificial intelligence on music and media at the University of Arizona.

The hosts of the technology podcast “Hard Fork” recently asked the Google CEO: Sundar Pichai What will your “boo strategy” be when you give your graduation speech? Stanford University next month.

For Pichai, the challenge is real: He leads one of the companies driving the AI ​​boom at a time when many graduates worry that technology could evaporate the jobs they are about to pursue.

“I have always been extraordinarily optimistic about the next generation,” he told his hosts. AI doesn’t change that, he said. “My goal will be to share my experiences and that is what I want to do.”

“These graduates will actually be a big part of both accelerating that progress and dealing with the impact of that,” he added, referring to artificial intelligence.

It is possible that Pichai will be welcomed by a more understanding crowd at Stanford, which is located in the heart of Silicon Valley and hosts some of the world’s most important names. talked about artificial intelligence courses in the country.

Still, the perception of artificial intelligence among the public is low. A Pew Research Center survey found that nearly half of Americans feel that the increasing prevalence of artificial intelligence in their daily lives makes them feel “more anxious than excited.” Meanwhile, many Americans across the country Resisting new data centers in their communities, which is necessary to power AI products such as chatbots.

At least a dozen major companies have cited increased productivity from AI as a factor in their success. decision to dismiss employees this year. And the AI ​​did this: It’s harder to look for a job By extending the interview process. The unemployment rate among new graduates reached its highest level in the last 4 years at the beginning of 2026.

Pichai told “Hard Fork” that people are “rightfully” concerned about what kind of future technology will create. “Humans did not evolve to process this much change,” he said, adding that the scale of change is unlike anything the world has ever seen.

Nvidia CEO at Carnegie Mellon University’s graduation ceremony earlier this month Jensen Huang It revealed that AI will have a net positive impact for humanity, including those just starting their careers.

“Now it’s time for you to realize your dreams,” he said to the graduates. “The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.”

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