Dozens walk out as Google boss Pichai addresses Stanford graduates (www.bbc.com)

At Stanford University's graduation ceremony, Google CEO Sundar Pichai faced significant backlash as dozens of students walked out in protest of the company's controversial work with the US government, particularly its involvement with ICE and AI surveillance technologies. This incident is part of a larger trend of campus protests against tech leaders addressing AI-related topics, reflecting growing unease among students about the implications of artificial intelligence on jobs and societal ethics. Pichai, a Stanford alum, largely avoided directly addressing AI controversies in his speech, opting to acknowledge the anticipated protests with humor. The protests—estimated to involve around 200 students—echo a broader sentiment on campuses where speakers discussing AI are increasingly met with hostility, suggesting a critical turning point for the tech industry's relationship with academia. This atmosphere highlights the urgent need for dialogue on the ethical and societal implications of AI advancements, as the industry faces scrutiny from a generation of students keenly aware of the transformation AI may bring to their future workforce.