UCF Graduates Boo AI Remarks at Commencement Speech Calling It 'Next Industrial Revolution'

Graduates of the University of Central Florida’s College of Arts and Humanities and Nicholson School of Communication and Media booed commencement speaker Gloria Caulfield after she described artificial intelligence as the “next industrial revolution” during her speech on May 8.

“And let’s face it, change can be daunting. The rise of artificial intelligence is the next industrial revolution,” Caulfield said. At that point, murmurs rippled through the crowd. Caulfield paused, and the crowd erupted into boos. “Oh, what happened?” Caulfield said, turning around with her hands out. “Okay, I struck a cord. May I finish?”

Someone in the crowd yelled, “AI SUCKS!”

Her speech begins around the 1 hour and 15 minute mark in the UCF livestream.

About Gloria Caulfield

According to her bio on the Tavistock Group’s website, Caulfield “oversees the health and medical partnerships as well as business development for Tavistock’s visionary Lake Nona community.” Lake Nona is a planned community in Florida. Caulfield is “instrumental in managing corporate partnerships and identifying strategic intersections with stakeholders in the Lake Nona community,” her bio states.

Caulfield’s Speech: Praise for Jeff Bezos and AI Controversy

Before making the industrial revolution comment, Caulfield praised Jeff Bezos for his passion and use of Amazon as a “stepping stone” to his real dream: spaceflight. Rattled after the crowd’s reaction, she continued her speech:

“Only a few years ago, AI was not a factor in our lives.” The crowd cheered.

“Okay. We've got a bipolar topic here I see,” Caulfield said. “And now AI capabilities are in the palm of our hands.” The crowd booed again.

“I love it, passion, let's go,” she said.

Caulfield added: “AI is beginning to challenge all major sectors to find their highest and best use.”

She then compared AI to past technological revolutions:

“Okay, I don't want any giggles when I say this. We have been through this before, these industrial revolutions. In my graduation era, we were faced with the launch of the internet.”

She went on to discuss how cellphones used to be the size of briefcases, saying:

“At that time we had no idea how any of these technologies would impact the world and our lives. [...] These were some of the same trepidations and concerns we are now facing. But ultimately it was a game changer for global economic development and the proliferation of new businesses that never existed like Apple and Google and Meta and so many others, and not to mention countless job opportunities. So being an optimist here, AI alongside human intelligence has the potential to help us solve some of humanity's greatest problems. Many of you in this graduating class will play a role in making this happen.”

Caulfield delivered these remarks to humanities and communications graduates, many of whom are entering a workforce increasingly disrupted by AI.

Industry Leaders Warn of AI’s Impact on Jobs

Not even the figures Caulfield praised in her speech believe the graduates are headed for an easy transition:

• In April, Palantir CEO Alex Karp said AI will “destroy” humanities jobs.
• Last week, a major tech executive echoed similar concerns about AI’s impact on traditional career paths.