‘What happened?’: Why Gen Z workers are revolting against AI |
‘What happened?’: Why Gen Z workers are revolting against AI
May 14, 2026 — 3:00pm
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Last Friday, a real estate executive stood in front of thousands of graduates to deliver a commencement speech. Gloria Caulfield was imparting wise words to the students from the University of Central Florida in a tradition that’s usually just vague platitudes with polite applause.
But not this time. “The rise of artificial intelligence,” she said, “is the next industrial revolution.” As she began her next sentence, an unexpected noise filled the hall. Slowly at first, then gaining momentum, the students booed her statement until it drowned out her speech.
Caulfield was shocked, holding up both hands as she tried to process why they were booing. She turned back to the other speakers on the stage with a confused look. “What happened?” she asked.
The audience continued to stir, and Caulfield asked if she could continue. She got one more sentence out before they erupted again. “Only a few years ago, AI was not a factor in........