Gloria Caulfield, an executive for Orlando-based property developer Tavistock, was met with a similar reaction at the University of Central Florida on May 8. The school’s arts and humanities graduates booed when she equated the rise of AI to the “next industrial revolution.” Moments later, they cheered when she said, “Only a few years ago, AI was not a factor in our lives.”
Why is a property developer even talking at an arts and humanities graduation? Universities have a long standing tradition of shitty commencement speakers that benefit the school rather than the students. Wouldn’t be surprised if the school was looking for some sweetheart development deal here.
I remember my graduating class giving shit to our school for picky some high ranking general, likely as a result of the large amount of DoD grants the school gets. That guy got boo’d too when he spoke, effectively trying to give a recruitment speech.
Just because they are dead, doesn’t mean someone isn’t profiting off it. Anything popular within the past 100 years has some sort of estate or corporation associated with it that will gladly profit off of someone else’s legacy, no matter how deplorable they may be.
Once things enter the public domain, it’s easier to make that seperation but art often reflects the opinions, thoughts and feeling of the creator so even in death it can be difficult to separate fully.