Compiled by the editorial desk from public commencement speeches and media reports, with reference to official university statements and event coverage.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — When Steve Wozniak took the podium at Grand Valley State University's commencement earlier this month, he didn't need a teleprompter or a lecture on the future of technology. Instead, the Apple co-founder offered a simple, human touch that resonated with graduates anxious about an AI-driven job market.

“We got AI today? You all have AI — actual intelligence,” Wozniak said, drawing cheers and laughter from the crowd. The quip set the tone for a speech that stood in stark contrast to the tech-heavy, sometimes scolding addresses delivered by other commencement speakers this season.

Wozniak, known for his folksy wit, continued with a playful comparison about building AI versus human brains. “I was at a company where the engineers figured out how to make a brain,” he said. “Yeah, takes nine months.” The remark, a subtle jab at the hype around artificial intelligence, underscored his message that human intelligence remains irreplaceable.

His approach was a departure from the experiences of other speakers who have faced vocal backlash from students weary of AI-centric sermons. At the University of Central Florida, businesswoman Gloria Caulfield was met with such loud boos that she paused her speech, asking, “What happened?” Her attempt to pivot — “Only a few years ago, AI was not a factor in our lives” — was drowned out by cheers.

Similarly, Scott Borchetta, CEO of Big Machine Records, lectured students at Middle Tennessee State University to accept AI as a tool. “Deal with it. Like I said, it’s a tool,” he insisted, only to be met with more boos. When the crowd grew louder, he taunted, “Then do something about it. It’s a tool. Make it work for you.”

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt faced perhaps the harshest reception at the University of Arizona. When he mentioned that Time magazine had named the “architects of AI” as its “Person of the Year,” the audience erupted in jeers. His subsequent assertion that AI “will touch every profession, every classroom, every hospital, every laboratory, every person and every relationship you have” only intensified the booing, forcing him to pause mid-speech.

Wozniak's message, by contrast, was a reminder of individual worth. “Your importance to the world is really yourself,” he told the graduates. “You should always try to think different.” The phrase, echoing Apple's iconic slogan, offered a personal, rather than technological, call to action.

Why This Matters

The reactions at these ceremonies highlight a growing disconnect between tech leaders and the generation entering the workforce. While industry figures often frame AI as an inevitable and beneficial force, many students express skepticism about its impact on jobs and society. Wozniak's ability to connect by acknowledging these fears — while still celebrating human potential — may offer a template for future speakers.