ORLANDO, Fla. \u2013 A commencement speech at the University of Central Florida is sparking debate online after comments about artificial intelligence drew boos from graduates during a recent ceremony for arts and humanities students.<\/p>\n
The reaction came during a speech delivered by Gloria Caulfield, president of the Lake Nona Institute and vice president of strategic alliances at Tavistock.<\/p>\n
\u201cArtificial intelligence is the next industrial revolution,\u201d Caulfield told graduates during the commencement ceremony.<\/p>\n
Video from the event shows students booing after references to AI, with clips of the moment quickly spreading on social media.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly a few years ago, AI was not a factor in our lives,\u201d Caulfield continued, with graduates then cheering at that statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy say that in a room full of creatives?\u201d said Madison Fuentes, a recent UCF graduate with a degree in English creative writing.<\/p>\n
[DOLLARS & SENSE: Your next boss might be a bot]<\/p>\n
Fuentes said many students are worried artificial intelligence could reduce opportunities in creative fields.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think that kids are having a hard time accepting it because we know that AI exists,\u201d Fuentes said. \u201cI think we\u2019re just having a hard time acknowledging that it\u2019s taking away job opportunities from us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Concerns about employment and AI are becoming more common among recent college graduates.<\/p>\n
According to a report from education technology group Cengage, only 30% of recent graduates in 2025 said they were able to find full-time jobs, compared with 41% in 2024. The survey included 1,000 recent graduates, many of whom cited concerns about artificial intelligence replacing jobs.<\/p>\n
An Instagram poll conducted by News 6 also reflected mixed feelings about AI among young people. About 88% of respondents said \u201cget it out of here,\u201d while 12% said they supported it.<\/p>\n
Still, some respondents said AI can be helpful when used responsibly and in moderation.<\/p>\n
[DOLLARS & SENSE: Why states want guardrails on your AI addiction]<\/p>\n
During the commencement ceremony, Caulfield acknowledged the divided reaction in the room, saying, \u201cWe\u2019ve got a bipolar topic here, I see.\u201d<\/p>\n
After reviewing the full commencement speech, News 6 reached out to Caulfield for additional comment. A voicemail was left, but she had not responded as of publication.<\/p>\n
News 6 also contacted the University of Central Florida with questions about whether commencement speeches are reviewed ahead of ceremonies and what message the university has for students entering an increasingly AI-driven workforce. <\/p>\n
\u201cI am disappointed in her choice of words. Maybe she wasn\u2019t expecting that reaction from talking about AI in a roomful of creatives, and that that might have rubbed us the wrong way,\u201d said Fuentes.<\/p>\n
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