Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak talks about real AI, college students applause

While several tech leaders have been booed for praising artificial intelligence at graduation ceremonies, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak ends up receiving cheers after reminding students that they already possess the most important AI of all.

In Short

• Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak says all students have AI– actual intelligence
• He asks them to value human intelligence
• His remark came at a time when students are increasingly anxious about AI taking their future jobs

College students in the US have recently been booing speakers who talk about artificial intelligence or praise its potential. From former Google chief executive Eric Schmidt to Adobe's AI Evangelist Chris Duffey, several technology leaders have faced cold and unwelcoming reactions from graduates worried about AI's impact on jobs and their future careers. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, however, received a very different response when he spoke about what he called the "real AI".

Speaking at Grand Valley State University's graduation ceremony for the Class of 2026, Wozniak shifted the focus away from machines and algorithms and instead highlighted what he described as students’ own AI. "You all have AI, actual intelligence," he told graduates. The remark immediately drew applause and laughter from students, with videos of the moment later going viral on social media.

Rather than presenting artificial intelligence as the defining technology of the future, the Apple co-founder encouraged students to celebrate human creativity, individuality and problem-solving ability.

Wozniak's comments stood out at a particularly sensitive time, as discussions around AI have become increasingly controversial at university graduations. In recent weeks, several commencement speakers have been met with cold responses while praising artificial intelligence and its growing role in the workplace.

Earlier this month, former Google chief executive Eric Schmidt was booed while discussing AI during a graduation speech at the University of Arizona. Schmidt acknowledged the unease in the audience, saying he could hear the fear among young people concerned about how technology might affect their career prospects.

Meanwhile, Google chief executive Sundar Pichai is preparing to address Stanford University's graduating class at a time when concerns about artificial intelligence and its impact on jobs are growing among students. However, unlike some technology executives who have promoted AI as an inevitable force for change, Pichai appears to be taking a more measured approach by openly acknowledging people's concerns rather than dismissing them.

Speaking on the Hard Fork podcast, Pichai said people are "rightfully" anxious about the future AI could bring. He described AI as "the most profound technology humanity will ever work on" and said it was natural for people to feel uneasy given the speed and scale of the changes underway. While many worry that AI could replace jobs and reshape careers, Pichai said he believes the future is "better than some of those dire predictions."

Despite the uncertainty, Pichai said he remains optimistic about the next generation and the opportunities AI could create. He argued that today's graduates will not only experience the impact of the technology but will also play a major role in shaping its future. "These graduates are actually both going to be a big part of driving that progress and also dealing with the impact of that technology," he said.

- Ends