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Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt spoke at the University of Arizona’s commencement ceremony this year.
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Students booed as Schmidt discussed artificial intelligence and automation.
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Artificial intelligence is transforming the global workforce, impacting entry-level jobs.
At a commencement address at the University of Arizona on Friday, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt was booed when he discussed a topic that might be a little touchy for those entering the workforce: artificial intelligence.
While other speakers drew cheers and applause, Schmidt’s speech on the impact of modern technology on society struck a nerve.
“We thought we were adding stones to the cathedral of knowledge that humanity had built over the centuries, but the world we built turned out to be more complex than we expected,” Schmidt said of his own contribution to modernization. “The tools that connect us also isolate us. Platforms that give everyone a voice — like the ones you use now — diminish the quality of the public sphere.”
Schmidt added, “In the years after I graduated, no one sat down and determined to develop technology that would polarize democracy and unsettle a generation of young people. That wasn’t the plan, but it happened.”
When he mentioned artificial intelligence, the boos from the students grew louder.
“I know how many of you feel about this. I can hear you. There is a fear,” Schmidt said, pausing briefly as the shouting intensified. “There is a fear in your generation that the future is already written, that the machines are coming, that jobs are disappearing, that the climate is being destroyed, that politics is being divided, and that you are inheriting a mess that you did not create.”
Schmidt called the concerns “rational” but encouraged them to adapt to the technology and get involved in shaping how it is used in the future.
“The question is not whether AI will shape the world. It will,” Schmidt said. “The question is whether you will shape artificial intelligence.”
Artificial intelligence is changing the global workforce, from how companies screen potential candidates to the types of skills they seek. Although young people are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence in their daily lives, surveys show they are worried about what it will mean for their careers.
The technology’s ability to automate many rote tasks has led some companies to cut back on hiring for entry-level positions. Companies such as Klarna and IBM have already made AI-related layoffs.
A recent Pew Research Center study found that about half of Americans feel “more concerned than excited” about the increasing use of artificial intelligence in their daily lives.
Some students also planned to boo before the ceremony over the sexual assault allegations against Schmidt last year. An attorney for Schmidt told Business Insider the charges were “fabricated.” In March, a judge ordered the lawsuit to be resolved through arbitration.
A spokesman for the University of Arizona said the school invited Schmidt because of his “extraordinary” contributions to technology and innovation.
“He helped lead Google into one of the most influential technology companies in the world and continues to advance research and discovery through major philanthropic and scientific initiatives, including partnerships that support important work at the University of Arizona,” the spokesperson said.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang also delivered a graduation speech at Carnegie Mellon University last week. He struck a more positive note, arguing that AI will create more opportunities for young people to build whatever they want. “It’s unlikely that artificial intelligence will replace you,” he said, acknowledging concerns about the job market. “But there are people who use AI better than you.”
Read the original article on Business Insider
