A growing backlash against AI is evident, with students booing former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and voters opposing AI's impact on jobs, creativity, and relationships. Cory Doctorow's new book argues that the revulsion stems from Big Tech's profit-driven model, not the technology itself.
Eric Schmidt faced boos at the University of Arizona commencement after warning graduates about the 'mess' created by technology and AI. He noted AI's potential to replace programmers and perform corporate operations, contrasting with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's optimistic view on AI creating opportunities.
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt was booed at the University of Arizona commencement, with students protesting his views on AI and past sexual assault allegations. Schmidt acknowledged student anxieties about job loss and the climate but urged them to embrace opportunities, a stance criticized as out of touch.
Researchers from University of Missouri-Kansas City and University of Arizona analyzed 22 studies with over 2,000 participants and found the average daily spoken words fell from 16,632 in 2005 to 11,900 in 2019—a 28% drop. Younger people lost 451 words per day annually versus 314 for those over 25. The trend likely continued post-pandemic, potentially bringing daily speech below 10,000 words.
