CAMBRIDGE, Thekabarnews.com – Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a popular topic for graduation speeches at American universities this graduation season. However, comedian and TV host Ronny Chieng offered one of the most provocative takes at Harvard University’s Class Day celebration.

In remarks to members of Harvard’s graduating Class of 2026, their families, and guests gathered at Tercentenary Theatre on Wednesday, Chieng reflected on the growing buzz around AI. He urged students to think critically about the impact it might have on creativity and human expression.

“Can I just say f**k AI, f**k AI, f**k AI?” Chieng told the audience as the graduates cheered and clapped loudly, as cited in Harvard Magazine.

The comedian, best known for his work on The Daily Show, then took issue with what he called the idea that young people have to embrace AI in full to succeed in the future.

“I’m glad you agree,” Chieng said. “It’s so st****d. A lot of other respected graduation speakers at colleges around America are talking about you guys needing to master AI for the future. I’m here to tell you that the mission of your generation is to destroy AI, to kill it.”

Later, Chieng clarified that his concerns were less about the technology itself and more about how people choose to use it. These comments drew laughter and excitement from the crowd.

He said AI could help propel major advances in medicine, scientific research, and physics.

“To pioneer breakthroughs in medicine and physics. If you’re using it for that purpose, you’re not part of the problem,” he said.

But more and more, Chieng is concerned that AI is prompting people to automate basic intellectual and creative tasks. Such tasks once took human effort and imagination.

“Untalented people love bragging about using AI to help them draft their speeches, and their scripts, and their podcasts, and their promo videos for UFC fights at the White House,” Chieng said.

“What they’re missing is this: creating is the fun part,” he told the graduates. He added that the struggle, experimentation, and personal effort that go into creating something original are still essential parts of human creativity.

Chieng also shot at Harvard outside of artificial intelligence. He joked that the university’s recent announcement of efforts to fight grade inflation just makes things look better, not smarter, by handing out more A’s.

“The more A’s you give out, the better everybody looks,” he said, getting laughs from the audience.

The comedian also brought up Harvard’s connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, providing another dose of controversy to his address.

Chieng’s comments come at a time when the subject of artificial intelligence is a key topic in conversations taking place across education, business, and technology.

Universities globally are discussing how to integrate AI tools into the learning environment. Employers are prioritizing the search for employees that can use AI technologies effectively.

AI may reduce originality, affect critical thinking, threaten certain jobs, and transform creative sectors.

Chieng’s graduation message was unusually non-conformist in that it challenged the dominant narrative about artificial intelligence.

Satire, social commentary, or a real warning? His speech received many responses from graduates and quickly became a trending topic on social media.

Chieng’s remarks kick off a broader conversation as AI seeps into our everyday worlds. The question is this: How do we welcome innovation without sacrificing the distinctively human traits of creativity, imagination, and independent thought?

Stay connected via Google News