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UCF Grads Boo Speaker Over Claim That AI Is the Next Industrial Revolution

The moment underscores broad Gen Z unease about AI’s effect on first jobs.

Overview

  • Graduates at the University of Central Florida booed when speaker Gloria Caulfield said artificial intelligence is the next industrial revolution.
  • The crowd, largely arts, design, and media students, then cheered when she noted AI was not part of daily life only a few years ago.
  • Caulfield is an executive at Tavistock Development Company, a major Central Florida real estate firm.
  • Gallup polling cited in coverage shows 14–29-year-olds report less excitement and hope about AI and more anger, with excitement down 14 points, hope down 9, and anger up 9 over the past year.
  • Reactions split across outlets and experts, with one business leader calling the skepticism understandable and a conservative site casting her remarks as echoing World Economic Forum themes, while others urge changes in education, hiring, and rules to ease pressure on young workers.