Humanities Graduates Boo Commencement Speaker's AI Remarks
Students at the University of Central Florida booed a commencement speaker on May 8 after she called artificial intelligence "the next industrial revolution." The crowd's reaction highlighted growing tensions between the tech industry's optimism about AI and concerns from creative professionals about its impact on their fields.
Gloria Caulfield, a real estate executive, delivered the speech to graduates from the College of Arts and Humanities and the Nicholson School of Communication and Media. Most held degrees in creative disciplines including film, animation, and media production.
"The rise of artificial intelligence is the next industrial revolution," Caulfield said to the assembled graduates in caps and gowns.
The crowd responded with sustained booing. Caulfield paused, visibly caught off guard. "What happened? OK, I struck a chord! May I finish?"
When she continued with remarks about AI capabilities now being "in the palm of our hands," the booing resumed.
Ethan Lubin, 22, a graduate with a degree in media production and management, was among those who booed. "Talking about artificial intelligence at a college for arts and humanities can be, you know, a bit rough," he said, "because it kind of goes against the humanities part."
The reaction reflects a broader divide. While technology executives and investors frame AI as an economic opportunity, creative professionals worry about job displacement and the devaluation of human-made work in fields like animation and film production.
For educators working with students in creative fields, the moment underscores a real concern: graduates entering industries where AI tools are already reshaping workflows and employment prospects. Understanding both the capabilities and limitations of these tools has become part of professional preparation in creative disciplines.
Resources like AI for Creatives courses can help professionals in these fields understand how to work alongside AI tools rather than view them purely as threats.
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