Steve Wozniak cheered after telling students they have AI – actual intelligence

# Apple's Steve Wozniak cheered for AI joke during graduation speech Source: [https://www.businessinsider.com/steve-wozniak-apple-ai-graduation-speech-2026-5](https://www.businessinsider.com/steve-wozniak-apple-ai-graduation-speech-2026-5) ## Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak got cheers, not boos, after telling students they 'all have AI — actual intelligence'  Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak\.Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images [Steve Wozniak](https://www.businessinsider.com/steve-wozniak)did what other college graduation commencement speakers couldn't this year: earn applause when talking about AI\. The Apple cofounder took the stage during Grand Valley State University's graduation ceremony earlier this month\. During his speech, Wozniak offered reassurance to new graduates who are entering the workforce at the height of the AI revolution\. "You have AI — actual intelligence," Wozniak said\. The remark garnered laughs and applause from the audience\. "It would take too long to go deeply into what I think about AI, but we've been trying to create a brain," Wozniak said\. "Is there a way we can duplicate a routine a trillion times and have it work like a brain? AI is one of those attempts\." While Wozniak delivered his speech without interruption, the same can't be said of some other AI\-forward commencement speakers\. In the weeks that followed, former[Google CEO Eric Schmidt](https://www.businessinsider.com/students-boo-eric-schmidt-google-ceo-ai-university-arizona-2026-5)and real estate executive[Gloria Caulfield](https://www.businessinsider.com/exec-who-praised-ai-at-humanities-graduation-booed-2026-5)were both booed for their comments about AI at two separate graduate ceremonies\. AI is looming over new graduates as they enter the job market\. The tech is changing the landscape, from[the skills candidates need](https://www.businessinsider.com/how-ai-transforming-workplace-faster-than-internet-2025-12)to how companies assess them\. Its ability to automate many tasks has led some companies to conduct[AI\-related layoffs](https://www.businessinsider.com/list-companies-replacing-human-employees-with-ai-layoffs-workforce-reductions)\. During his commencement address, Wozniak reflected on working at Apple and offered students some advice as they begin their careers\. "You should always try to think different," he said\. "Don't follow the same steps as a million other people\. Think, is there something I can do a little different?" ## Read next Lauren Edmonds is an award\-winning reporter on the Business News team\. When news isn't breaking, she covers personal finance, kitchen\-table economics, and paths to financial freedom, including investing, real estate, side hustles, and small business\. She also writes about guaranteed and universal basic income programs in the United States\.Lauren has also covered lifestyle and entertainment, digital culture, and more\. She has a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and resides in New York City\.Do you have an interesting story to tell? You can reach Lauren at[ledmonds@businessinsider\.com](mailto:[email protected])or on Signal at ledmonds0\.07\.Popular Stories[Netflix wants to be Disney when it grows up](https://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-house-disney-world-theme-parks-2024-6)[Why Hollywood is paying this 17\-year\-old up to $20,000 to boost film trailers with TikTok edits](https://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-house-disney-world-theme-parks-2024-6)[Here's all the free money Trump's talked about giving Americans during his second term — and where it all stands](https://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-house-disney-world-theme-parks-2024-6)[A 17\-year\-old earned $72,000 after investing his e\-commerce profits into stocks\. Here's why he bet on the tech industry\.](https://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-house-disney-world-theme-parks-2024-6)[Lawmakers float a nationwide basic income experiment that would cover the cost of a 2\-bedroom apartment](https://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-house-disney-world-theme-parks-2024-6)[Nearly 30,000 Americans have received about $335 million in basic income\. Here are 5 takeaways\.](https://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-house-disney-world-theme-parks-2024-6)[Americans ditch suffocating healthcare costs and divisive politics to retire in Italy: 'It's the way they approach life'](https://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-house-disney-world-theme-parks-2024-6)[From 'road\-schooling' to gas that costs $500, this family of 4 shares what it's like living in a solar\-powered Greyhound bus](https://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-house-disney-world-theme-parks-2024-6) - [Apple](https://www.businessinsider.com/category/apple) - [AI](https://www.businessinsider.com/category/ai)