At the Kansas City Art Institute graduation on May 16, fashion designer Jeremy Scott opened his commencement address by reading a polished, AI‑generated script filled with familiar platitudes—“threshold of a new beginning,” “your power is limitless.” Then he paused. “Sounds kind of clichéd, right? Doesn’t sound authentic, does it? Sounds like you’ve heard it before, right? It’s because it’s AI,” he told the audience. With that, he tore the script in half, prompting loud cheers and applause from the graduates. (breitbart.com)
Scott went on to deliver a human‑centered message: “You don’t want the ‘AI overlords telling you what’s right and what’s wrong.’ Because you know what AI can’t do? It can’t do what you do. It can’t have an original idea. It can’t even differentiate the difference between a good idea, a unique idea, and one that’s mediocre.” He emphasized that artists are more vital than ever: “The artist is even more crucial than ever. They decide what truth feels like. They’re a bender of reality while being a mirror to society.” (breitbart.com)
Scott’s bold gesture stood in stark contrast to other recent commencement speeches that praised AI—many of which were met with boos. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, real estate executive Gloria Caulfield, and music executive Scott Borchetta all faced jeers when discussing AI’s role in the future. (tomshardware.com)
In an era where AI is increasingly woven into creative and professional life, Scott’s message resonated: human originality, passion, and the ability to shape meaning remain irreplaceable. His act of tearing up the AI script became a symbolic stand for authenticity in a moment when many graduates feel anxious about the encroaching influence of artificial intelligence.