Microsoft President Brad Smith Calls AI Protests Wake up

Microsoft President Brad Smith has responded to a wave of student protests at college graduations, framing the vocal criticism of artificial intelligence as a necessary wake-up call for the technology industry. In a lengthy blog post and accompanying interviews published this week, Smith acknowledged the deep anxiety among new graduates about job displacement but argued for an optimistic view focused on adaptation and new opportunities.

The public discontent became evident during recent commencement ceremonies, where speakers praising AI were met with boos from graduating students. Incidents included former Google CEO Eric Schmidt being jeered at the University of Arizona and similar protests at other universities. Smith, who was prompted in part by learning that Princeton University seniors rejected ceremonial jacket designs they suspected were AI-generated, described the backlash as a "powerful wake-up call" signaling that people will insist on having a say in how the technology is used.

Smith's response comes amid a difficult job market for graduates, with entry-level positions in fields like coding and analysis facing pressure from automation. He acknowledged a "perfect...