Jeremy Scott turned a typical graduation speech into a statement about creativity and technology after opening his commencement address with a speech secretly written by artificial intelligence.
Speaking to graduates at Kansas City Art Institute on May 16, Scott initially delivered what sounded like a standard commencement message filled with inspirational phrases about limitless potential and new beginnings. But after a few moments, the longtime designer stopped and revealed the speech wasn’t actually his.
“Sounds kind of cliched, right? Doesn’t sound authentic, does it?” Scott told the crowd before explaining the remarks had been generated by AI. He then tore the speech up, being met with applause.
From there, Scott shifted into a passionate defense of human creativity and warned students against allowing technology to replace artistic originality.
“You don’t want the AI overlords telling you what’s right and what’s wrong,” Scott said during the speech.
The designer argued that artificial intelligence may be able to mimic styles and recycle information, but it cannot genuinely create in the same way artists can.
“Because you know what AI can’t do? It can’t do what you do,” Scott told graduates. “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.”
Scott also emphasized the emotional and human side of art, saying passion remains something machines cannot replicate.
“That’s what makes your role as an artist so much more urgent right now,” he said. “The artist is even more crucial than ever.”
The speech quickly gained traction online, partly because it arrived during a broader national debate over AI and the creative industries. Recent commencement speeches discussing artificial intelligence have drawn backlash at multiple universities, with students openly booing speakers connected to tech and corporate leadership.
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and music executive Scott Borchetta were among the recent commencement speakers criticized over comments about AI’s growing role in business, media, and entertainment.
Scott’s remarks come at a time when many young creatives are entering industries already being reshaped by automation, generative AI tools, and changing hiring practices. Concerns over job displacement and the increasing use of AI across music, art, film, and media have become a growing topic among students and professionals alike.
