AMD CEO Lisa Su Urges MIT's 2026 Graduates to Pair AI Skills With Human Judgment
Updated
Updated · Fortune · May 29
AMD CEO Lisa Su Urges MIT's 2026 Graduates to Pair AI Skills With Human Judgment
6 articles · Updated · Fortune · May 29
MIT’s class of 2026 heard Lisa Su argue that AI will amplify human capability, but people—not the technology—must decide which problems matter and take responsibility for outcomes.
Su said graduates need purpose, judgment and courage, warning that knowing how to prompt or code with AI is no longer enough in a labor market being rapidly reshaped by the tools.
66,000 job postings listed generative AI skills in 2024, up from 16,000 in 2023, while roles mentioning LLMs rose to 20,000 and prompt-engineering openings nearly hit 6,300.
That demand is colliding with a skills gap: Workday’s Aashna Kircher said discernment and judgment can take 10 years to build even as workers are being asked to apply them now.
A 2026 Ipsos study underscored the payoff—AI-fluent employees were 4.5 times more likely to report higher salaries and four times more likely to be promoted.
If AI fluency offers huge pay bumps, how can new graduates actually develop the 'judgment' that AI lacks?
Tech leaders preach human judgment, so why do most companies fail to see any profit from their massive AI investments?
Is the corporate call for 'human purpose' in the AI era a genuine strategy or just sophisticated public relations?
AI in 2026: Student Boos, $190B Industry Investment, and the Battle for Human Agency
Overview
In May 2026, AMD CEO Lisa Su addressed MIT's graduating class, urging students to combine AI expertise with essential human qualities like judgment and courage. Unlike other speakers who warned of an 'adapt-or-die' future, Su offered a more balanced view, stressing that humans are still needed to guide and correct AI. However, her mention of AI drew boos from students, highlighting widespread anxiety and skepticism among graduates about AI's impact on their careers. This reaction reflects a broader trend of unreceptiveness to AI-focused messages, as many young people worry about the relevance of their skills in an AI-driven world.