UCF commencement speaker met with boos over pro-AI remarks during ceremony:
|
Gloria Caulfield, the Vice President of Strategic Alliances at Orlando-based Tavistock Development Company, made the highly ridiculed remark in front of communication and media graduates at the university’s Addition Financial Arena Friday night.
“The rise of artificial intelligence is the next industrial revolution,” Caulfield said as a loud chorus of boos rained down on her.
Gloria Caulfield delivers her speech during a commencement ceremony at the UCF on May 8, 2026.
4 Gloria Caulfield delivers her speech during a commencement ceremony at UCF on May 8, 2026.
Storyful Caulfield was left confounded by the crowd’s response and backed from the podium to ask other educators on stage, “What happened? ... In her speech, Caulfield shared some of the lessons she had learned during her professional career and found that most successful leaders don’t worry about disruption while “embracing innovation,” including the relatively new expansion into the “AI realm.” ... legend-turned-businessman Magic Johnson, as “dreamers” with passion and large goals that came to fruition.
“We are living in a time of profound change. That’s an understatement, right? Profound change. Change is exciting. Very exciting. And let’s face it, change ... The speaker regained control of the crowd and returned to her prewritten speech, if only for a second.
“Only a few years ago, AI was not a factor in our lives,” she said to a resounding applause and cheering.
... “OK, alright, we’ve got a bipolar topic here, I see,” Caulfield joked before losing half the crowd again.
“And now AI capabilities are in the palm of our hands,” she added to a mixture of boos and applause.
... “Oh, I love it, Caulfield said through her laughing.
“Passion. Let’s go.” UCF graduates react during Caulfield's speech inside Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, Florida, on May 8, 2026.
4 UCF graduates react during Caulfield’s speech inside Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, Florida, on May 8, 2026.
Storyful 4 Caulfield gestures off stage, wondering why her remarks were met with a reaction during the ceremony.
Storyful Caulfield, a former healthcare executive, continued her speech describing the major “industrial revolution” she had seen in her lifetime with the invention of the internet, email and the dramatic change of the cellphone since they were first launched.
“I know it sounds amusing, but at the time we had no idea how any of these technologies would impact the world and our lives,” Caulfield said.
“These were some of the same trepidations and concerns we are now facing.
But ultimately, it was a game-changer for global economic development and the proliferation of new businesses that never existed,” she added.
Caulfield, a former healthcare executive, continued her speech describing the major "industrial revolution" she had seen in her lifetime.
4 Caulfield, a former healthcare executive, continued her speech describing the major “industrial revolution” she had seen in her lifetime.
Storyful As she rounded up her speech, Caulfield shared her belief that artificial intelligence is capable of being a great tool for the world if properly controlled.
“Being an optimist here, AI alongside human intelligence has the potential to help us solve some of humanity’s biggest problems,” she said.
“Many of you in ... Mamdani boasts of savings in $124.7B NYC budget plan — that'll nickel-and-dime New Yorkers with hidden fee hikes This story has been shared 7,878 times.
7,878 Mamdani boasts of savings in $124.7B NYC budget plan — that'll ... Gloria Caulfield delivers her speech during a commencement ceremony at the UCF on May 8, 2026.
Gloria Caulfield delivers her speech during a commencement ceremony at UCF on May 8, 2026.
Storyful UCF graduates react during Caulfield's speech inside Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, Florida, on May 8, 2026.
UCF graduates react during Caulfield's speech inside Addition Financial Arena ... Caulfield gestures off stage wondering why her remarks were met with a reaction during the ceremony.
Caulfield gestures off stage, wondering why her remarks were met with a reaction during the ceremony.
Storyful Caulfield, a former healthcare executive, continued her speech describing the major "industrial revolution" she had seen in her lifetime.
Caulfield, a former healthcare executive, continued her speech describing the ...
|
Copy / Kopioi
