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This Week in Startups · May 18, 2026 · 1h 8m 40s

Why is Gen Z Hates AI?

Jason Calacanis and Alex discuss the growing backlash against AI among Gen Z and the broader public, triggered by high-profile figures like Eric Schmidt being booed at commencement ceremonies. The episode explores why students entering an AI-reshaped job market are increasingly skeptical of the technology, examines concentration of AI revenue (90% to Anthropic and OpenAI), and covers emerging concerns about surveillance infrastructure like Flock Safety's camera networks.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Highlights

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Gen Z Backlash Against AI as Mainstream Sentiment
Gen Z graduates entering the workforce are experiencing genuine skepticism and backlash against AI due to visible job displacement and market disruption, evidenced by Eric Schmidt being booed at 2026 commencement ceremonies.
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AI as Economic Threat to Entry-Level Job Market
AI is visibly eliminating entry-level positions and reducing job opportunities for recent graduates, making it a personal economic threat rather than a distant technological abstraction.

Editorial

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AI Revenue Concentration: Anthropic and OpenAI Control 90% of Startup AI Revenue
According to The Information's reporting, Anthropic and OpenAI capture nearly 90% of all startup AI revenue, creating extreme market concentration.
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Surveillance Infrastructure as Invisible Risk: Flock Safety's Camera Network
Flock Safety's expanding network of cameras represents a largely unexamined surveillance infrastructure that Gen Z intuitively distrusts, even as they're unaware of its full scope.
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Post-ChatGPT University Disruption: Academic Culture Shift
A viral Stanford student essay documented how the arrival of ChatGPT has fundamentally altered undergraduate life, assignments, grading standards, and the meaning of academic achievement.

Misc

✧Eric Schmidt booed at commencement ceremony for praising AI — symbolic of generational shift in tech sentiment
✧2026 commencement season becoming anti-AI messaging battleground
✧Stanford student's viral essay reflects post-ChatGPT disruption of academic culture
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