Graduates Boo AI‑Optimistic CEOs as Polls Show Job Fear Rises

At Middle Tennessee State University, CEO Scott Borchetta told graduates they could either listen now or pay later, urging them to make AI work for them. His remarks drew boos, which grew louder as he doubled down, saying the technology would rewrite production and that much of what they learned might already be obsolete. Similar scenes unfolded at the University of Central Florida and the University of Arizona, where speakers comparing AI to past industrial shifts faced real‑time derision.

A 2025 Harvard poll found that most young Americans view AI as a threat to their career prospects. An NBC News survey of 1,000 registered voters showed only 26% have a positive view of AI while 46% view it negatively. These figures illustrate a clear gap between executive optimism and public apprehension.

The backlash signals that graduates feel their costly degrees are being devalued by rapid AI adoption, fueling fears of job displacement and financial insecurity. Executives who dismiss these concerns risk damaging trust and inviting further pushback at future events. Institutions may need to bridge the gap by offering clearer pathways for skill adaptation and transparent communication about AI’s impact.