At Harvard’s recent Class Day event, comedian and “The Daily Show” host Ronny Chieng delivered a graduation speech that grabbed everyone’s attention. He didn’t just talk about artificial intelligence. He told the graduating class to destroy it.

Chieng’s speech was full of raw language and sharp criticism. He opened with a bold chant: “Can I just say f*** AI, f*** AI, f*** AI?” The crowd cheered loudly. This wasn’t your typical graduation pep talk.

He challenged the popular narrative that today’s graduates must embrace AI to succeed. Instead, Chieng said, “The mission of your generation is to destroy AI.” He explained his point by warning about what he calls “cognitive debt.” This is when people rely too much on AI and stop thinking critically themselves.

Why Destroy AI?

Chieng wasn’t against all uses of AI. He acknowledged AI’s role in advancing medicine and physics. If AI helps create breakthroughs that improve lives, he said, “You’re not the problem.” But his main concern was the way many use AI to shortcut creativity and learning.

He criticized people who boast about using AI to write speeches, podcasts, or emails. “You know who else can do that? Me,” he joked. “If you can’t do that, how useless are you?” His point was clear: relying on AI for basic tasks can weaken essential skills.

He warned that the next big challenge won’t be humans fighting AI. Instead, it will be a battle between those who truly master their craft and those who fake it with shallow knowledge. “It’s going to be people with substance versus people with shallow knowledge,” he said.

Creativity and the Human Journey

What struck many was Chieng’s passion for creativity. He said the fun part of work is the struggle and discovery, not just the finished product. “Creating is the fun part,” he said. “Why would I want AI to take that away from me?”

He described writing comedy as a puzzle that brings self-respect when solved. Using AI to skip that process, he argued, steals the joy and growth that come with effort. For Chieng, the journey of learning is the real point.

He told graduates to chase what they love, even if it ruins their relationships. “When you have clarity of purpose and you’re doing something you love, every day can be a joy,” he said. This, he believes, is how people stay human in a world filled with machines.

The speech also touched on Harvard itself. Chieng mocked recent grade inflation reforms and the university’s controversial ties to Jeffrey Epstein. These remarks added a layer of sharp social commentary to the event.

Chieng closed by urging the graduates to help stop AI’s spread. “One day soon, some kids will be asking you for advice after they graduate,” he said. “And you can say, ‘Be kind, be joyful, but for the love of God, help me destroy these machines first.’”

This speech came amidst growing resistance to AI on college campuses. Students across the country are pushing back against what they see as executives pushing AI at the expense of jobs and human creativity. Some refuse to use AI at work or actively undermine AI projects.

Former tech leaders who praised AI recently faced heckling at other commencements. This shows a clear divide between industry optimism and student skepticism.

Chieng’s speech is a vivid reminder that AI isn’t just a tool. It’s a cultural and ethical challenge. How society chooses to use AI will shape how much creativity, skill, and joy humans keep in their lives.