AI Summary
5 min readGen Z's skepticism toward AI emerges in this episode as a reaction to perceived threats against future employment and a sense that technology leaders have already decided outcomes without input from those most affected. Hosts Jason and the co-host examine clips from recent commencement speeches, student essays, and workforce data to explain why recent graduates view AI less as opportunity and more as a force that narrows options.
Commencement Speeches and Audience Pushback
Eric Schmidt's address at the University of Arizona framed AI as an inevitable transformation that students should help shape rather than fear. The speech met audible resistance, with the audience reacting negatively to assurances about agency and future roles. A second clip from a University of Central Florida event showed similar discomfort when a business executive described AI as the next industrial revolution. These moments illustrated a disconnect: speakers presented AI as exciting progress, while listeners appeared to interpret the same message as dismissive of their immediate economic pressures.
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What you'll learn
- 1 (04:49) **Eric Schmidt commencement speech** - Former Google CEO addresses University of Arizona graduates about AI transformation and agency
- 2 (07:53) **Why the speech landed poorly** - Analysis of Gen Z skepticism toward AI promises
- 3 (09:34) **ChatGPT generation experience** - Current students have used AI tools throughout college
- 4 (11:13) **Second commencement example** - University of Central Florida speech also draws negative reaction
- 5 (14:09) **Broader Gen Z cultural rejection** - View that AI feels toxic and inauthentic
- 6 (15:16) **Vietnam War analogy** - Comparison to 1960s counterculture resistance
- 7 (16:07) **Data center job projections** - University of Utah report shows limited long-term employment
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Show Notes
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Today’s show:
AI is the villain of the 2026 commencement cycle, with business luminaries — including Eric Schmidt — booed for discussing or praising the technology. As students graduate into a job market forcibly reshaped by AI, increasingly negative public polling on the potential impacts of artificial intelligence on society is clearly not missing the mark.
Jason and Alex then discussed The Information’s reporting that Anthropic and OpenAI earn nearly 90% of all startup AI revenue, a Stanford student’s viral essay regarding their time at the university in a post-ChatGPT world, Flock Safety’s impressive (and worrying) web of cameras, and the upcoming Mark II AI bookmark. The episode closes with questions from our live audience!
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Timestamps:
0:00 TWiST All-Stars summer lineup announcement
2:43 Plaud: If your work depends on conversations — interviews, meetings, calls — you need a Plaud NotePin. You can check it out at https://Plaud.ai/twist and use code TWIST for 10% off!
5:08 Eric Schmidt booed at University of Arizona commencement
8:57 Why Gen Z feels "double-crossed" by AI leaders
10:10 Deel - Founders scale faster on Deel. Set up payroll for any country in minutes, hire anyone anywhere, get visas handled fast, and get back to building. Visit https://deel.com/twist to learn more.
15:22 Is this AI's Vietnam moment? The anti-war parallel
18:04 Theo Baker's NYT essay on Stanford's AI cheating culture
19:24 Sentry - New users can get $240 in free credits when they go to https://sentry.io/twist and use the code TWIST
22:30 Why Jason says everyone should start a company
28:59 Anthropic + OpenAI capture 89% of AI
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