Five young people were at the center of my thinking as I watched video after video of college graduates booing commencement speakers this spring. One of them uses AI every day to manage his neurodiversity, and it has genuinely changed his life. The other four want nothing to do with it.
The Class of 2026 is entering the toughest job market for new graduates in about five years. Entry-level postings are down 30% since 2023. Eighty-one percent of Gen Z believes AI will reduce job availability. The boos at the University of Arizona, UCF, and Marquette were not irrational. They were data-backed.
In my latest Human Input column for Colorado AI News, I dig into what was really happening at those commencements, what the speakers who got applause did differently (hint: they centered the graduates, not the technology), and three things every leader should take from this moment before rolling out AI inside their organization. Keep the skepticism. Pair it with curiosity.
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