Overview
- Schmidt, who spoke Saturday at the University of Arizona in Tucson, faced loud boos as he turned to artificial intelligence and automation in his address.
- Student groups handed out flyers, urged classmates to turn their backs, and called the university’s decision to feature him a platform for an alleged abuser.
- The protests drew energy from a lawsuit by Michelle Ritter, who alleges rape, non-consensual sex, and digital surveillance; Schmidt denies the claims and his attorney called them fabricated.
- A Los Angeles judge in March sent Ritter’s case to arbitration, citing a December 2024 written settlement and an arbitration agreement that the court found controlling.
- The university defended inviting Schmidt, citing his tech leadership and philanthropic ties to campus, as graduates voiced fears that AI could wipe out entry-level work.