Software & Systems · Story 4

Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak got cheers, not boos, after telling students they 'all have AI — actual intelligence'

Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak received cheers from graduates at Grand Valley State University after telling them they “all have AI — actual intelligence.” The remark was part of a graduation speech earlier this month that drew laughter and applause from the audience.

Wozniak’s quip taps into a broader cultural debate about the hype around artificial intelligence versus human intelligence. As a tech pioneer, his skepticism carries weight in discussions about AI’s real capabilities and limitations.

Key details

• Steve Wozniak made the comment during a graduation speech at Grand Valley State University earlier this month.
• The line “you all have AI — actual intelligence” was met with cheers and laughter from graduates.
• The speech was covered by Business Insider and shared on Reddit’s r/technology subreddit, where it received over 32,000 upvotes.
• Wozniak is a cofounder of Apple and has been a vocal critic of some AI hype in recent years.

Discussion angles

• Commenters praised Wozniak as a grounded voice in tech, with one saying “Woz needs to be a bigger voice” in AI debates.
• Some users contrasted Wozniak’s character with Steve Jobs, noting he “knows bullshit when he sees it” and left Apple to focus on family.
• Others expressed admiration for his philanthropy, citing his funding of the US Festival as an example of his generosity.
• A few comments highlighted Wozniak’s personal history, including being “massively screwed over by Jobs” but still walking away with a nine-figure fortune.