Hundreds of students staged a walkout during Stanford University‘s commencement ceremony as Google CEO Sundar Pichai began delivering his keynote address, drawing attention to ongoing campus activism surrounding the war in Gaza and concerns over the technology industry’s government partnerships.
Videos shared on social media showed graduates leaving their seats at Stanford Stadium while chanting “Free, free Palestine” shortly after Pichai took the stage. Local media outlets estimated that as many as 200 students participated in the demonstration, although the exact number has not been officially confirmed.
The protest was reportedly organized by student groups, including Students for Justice in Palestine and No Tech for Apartheid, which have criticized major technology companies over their involvement in government and military-related projects.
Some protesters carried Palestinian flags, while others displayed signs criticizing Google’s artificial intelligence initiatives and its work with government agencies. One sign seen during the demonstration read, “ICE spies with Google AI.”
The walkout reflects broader tensions on university campuses across the United States, where student activism has increasingly focused on the conflict in Gaza, corporate partnerships with governments, and the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence technologies.
Pichai, a Stanford alumnus, largely avoided discussing the controversy during his remarks. However, he appeared to acknowledge expectations of protests with a lighthearted comment referencing his surname.
“People thought it would be really difficult for me,” Pichai told graduates. “It is the last two letters of my last name, after all.”
Despite the disruption, the graduation ceremony continued as scheduled, and Pichai completed his address to the graduating class. Neither Stanford University nor Google had issued an official statement on the protest at the time of reporting.
Related: Columbia Cracks Down on Pro-Palestine Protesters
The demonstration follows similar incidents at graduation ceremonies across the country this year, where technology executives and business leaders have faced criticism over artificial intelligence, job displacement concerns, and corporate involvement in government initiatives.
