Students Boo Commencement Speaker After She Calls AI Next Industrial Revolution
404media.co
May 11, 2026
1 min read
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Summary
Gloria Caulfield, vice president of strategic alliances at Tavistock Group, referred to AI as the “next industrial revolution” during her commencement speech at the University of Central Florida. Her remarks were met with boos from thousands of graduating students.
Key Takeaways
- Commencement speaker Gloria Caulfield described AI as the "next industrial revolution" during her speech at the University of Central Florida.
- The statement prompted a negative reaction from the graduates, resulting in thousands of boos.
- A member of the audience shouted, "AI SUCKS!" in response to Caulfield's remarks.
Coverage & discussions
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Community discussions
Community Sentiment
Positives
- AI technology is undeniably making waves and having a significant impact, as evidenced by its evolution since GPT-2, which should not be dismissed.
- There are real use cases for AI that can potentially improve productivity and efficiency, suggesting a transformative potential similar to past industrial revolutions.
Concerns
- The perception of AI as the next Industrial Revolution is viewed skeptically, with concerns that it could lead to widespread unemployment and societal issues.
- Many believe that the current output of AI is not enjoyable or morally defensible, indicating a disconnect between technology and user experience.
- The sentiment among graduates reflects a fear of being left in abject poverty due to AI advancements, highlighting a need for a more inclusive vision of AI's future.