New Delhi, June 15: Google CEO Sundar Pichai faced a walkout of approximately 200 graduates during his speech at Stanford University. The incident occurred when he refrained from mentioning artificial intelligence (AI) to avoid upsetting students. Reports indicate that the graduates left in protest against Google’s ties with Israel and other grievances.
According to an SFgate report, the students walked out of the ceremony as a demonstration against the company’s relationship with the Israeli government, particularly in light of the $1.2 billion cloud computing deal known as ‘Project Nimbus’ established in 2021.
While AI may seem a common topic for graduates from a prestigious institution like Stanford, speakers at college commencement ceremonies this year have faced student backlash whenever they addressed the subject.
During his speech, Pichai shared his personal journey from India to Silicon Valley, discussing his early struggles and challenges. He talked about his decision to move to California and shift from pursuing a doctorate to obtaining a master’s degree before joining Google.
The report noted, “As Pichai took the stage, around 200 students exited. Small groups in the audience waved banners, whistled, and displayed Palestinian flags before leaving mid-speech.”
The walkout is part of a broader trend of protests at Stanford’s graduation ceremonies over the past three years, reflecting student dissent against the university’s stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict and the recent violence in Gaza.
Protesters organized a separate event titled “People’s Commencement,” featuring activist Mahmoud Khalil as the main speaker. Khalil was previously detained for over 100 days by U.S. immigration officials due to his involvement in pro-Palestinian activism at Columbia University last year.
Last month, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt also faced student discontent during the University of Arizona’s commencement when he stated that “AI will affect everything,” prompting graduates to express their dissent through booing.
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Deependra Singh Chundawat is a Senior Sub-Editor at Udaipur Kiran, specializing in a wide range of technology topics including mobile phones, applications, gaming, PCs, and wearables. Along with covering the latest tech news, he also creates engaging web stories. Passionate about emerging technologies, he stays up to date with the newest trends and enjoys reading and writing about the latest mobile launches and digital innovations.
