Steve Wozniak Steals the Show with Heartfelt AI Talk at Commencement

So, if you’re gearing up to deliver a university commencement speech anytime soon, take a page from Steve Wozniak’s playbook. Forget the cliché hype about AI that seems to fall flat these days. Seriously, recent grads are not here for another tech mogul’s glorification of artificial intelligence—just ask the real estate exec who got booed for proclaiming AI as “the next industrial revolution.” Even Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google, faced the crowd’s disapproval when he sang praises about AI reshaping our lives.

But leave it to Wozniak, the iconic co-founder of Apple, to break the mold. During his speech on May 2 at Grand Valley State University, he managed to be one of the rare speakers who actually got a warm reception when discussing AI. How did he pull that off? By recognizing he was speaking to a room full of bright, ambitious individuals rather than just a group of investors.

“AI is a hot topic today,” Wozniak remarked. “It would take me an hour to cover it fully, but guess what? You all have AI!” At that moment, the crowd held its breath, bracing for the usual corporate jargon. But Wozniak lightened the mood instead, declaring, “You all have AI, actual intelligence!” And just like that, the applause roared in support.

Wozniak then took a jab at tech enthusiasts like Sam Altman, poking fun at the quest for a true artificial mind. “Throughout my career, I’ve been surrounded by folks trying to figure out how to create a brain,” he said, before sharing a cheeky anecdote. “I worked at a company where the engineers figured out how to make a brain, and it takes nine months!” This bit had the audience in stitches.

He wrapped up with a heartwarming reminder, saying, “When you leave this world, you won’t remember the formulas or lessons from class. What stays with you are the memories and experiences you shared with others.” It’s a refreshing take from a legendary figure in technology, showing that at the end of the day, it’s all about the people and the good times we share.