A.I., Originality, and a Plea to the Class of 2025
Life is fraught with platitudes and colloquialisms—so ingrained in everyday exchanges, they frequently go unnoticed; and, therefore, lose their origins, meanings, and, ultimately, impacts through overuse, misuse, and, well, use. It really can’t be helped, I guess. The meme-ification of existence requires a constant state of recall and retainment of images, sounds, and words—referential materials constantly morphing, adding, and subtracting from themselves and one another, sometimes birthing entirely new origins for entirely new expressions in the midst of otherwise banal overdevelopment—in order to remain in a constant vogue status.
Parlance, fads, and styles shift with every successive generation, but while it’s easy to shrug off the emergence of newfound lexicon and turns-of-phrase, ignorance to (and of) changing trends can lead to more than innocent misunderstandings. For example, while setting up utility accounts for the business, a customer-service representative that’d been randomly selected for me started dropping terms, like “no cap” [and others I’ve since forgotten], with such regularity I had to pause the conversation, in which business was supposedly being transacted, to ask for clarifications. What started out as simple confusions led to, I believe, a purposeful, intergenerational test of cognizance; otherwise, I can’t fathom how whatever orientation the employee must have undergone would’ve permitted so much slang being used while on the company dime.
One overly encumbered instance aside, most of life’s tribulations likely won’t be decided upon knowing, or not knowing, the definition of the term “on fleek” [it means “extremely good,” by the way…I think?]. To that end, all presently chic jargon will likely be headed the way of “23 skidoo” anyway…and, if we’re lucky, they’ll be 23 skidoo [“leaving quickly”] in their egress as well. The issue at hand isn’t in inception or utilization of slang, phraseology, etc., but in their intent.
Arguably, the advents of smart technology and social media have catalyzed an exponential influx in modern communicative evolution—and, with it, white noise. Humans are being issued screens earlier than ever in life. While certain, albeit few, instances assuredly come with benefits to infantile and/or adolescent advancement, perpetual bombardment to stimuli has proven detrimental to cognitive development. Reading levels are down; math scores have dwindled; don’t even get me started on socialization skills. Attention spans have atrophied to snippets, and with an ever-growing, ever-changing mediascape presented on an around-the-clock basis, it’s no wonder the idea of a centralized understanding of the current state of human culture, at any singular moment, is an utter impossibility.
The danger in an overstimulated, underutilized populace is herd immunity to survivalism.
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Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, an A.I. firm, has predicted the loss of 50% of entry-level white-collar jobs within the next 1 to 5 years due to artificial intelligence, leading to a possible 20% national unemployment rate, deemed a “white-collar bloodbath.” Meanwhile, positions held by trained and experienced employees are also simultaneously on the chopping block. Granted, certain areas of discipline within the job market hold a lot of sway, regarding these concerns; but, whereas, for example, not even a decade ago, coding was considered one of the safest areas of employment, it’s roundly considered dead today. Consultants, paralegals, administrators, teachers—more professions than I’d like to take the time to list—will be facing job insecurities in forthcoming months and years.
Still, it’s graduation season, and the Class of 2025 is about to step into the real world (or college…and then the real world)! Having graduated high school 23 years ago, I can’t fathom how things have changed for high school students since I removed my mortarboard and gown. Back then, AOL was still a thing, and instant messaging was how most friends stayed in touch…apart from actually calling each other on the phone, that is. Facebook was a year or two off, with access granted only to those with college email addresses. Likewise, VHS tapes hadn’t been entirely phased out, although DVDs were still the most prevalent shelf occupants at Blockbuster Video. [Just let those last two words sink in for a moment.]
Again, it was a different time…
Facing a nearly 1:2 ratio of unemployment upon finishing college, no amount of platitudes or colloquialisms lobbed during multitudinous high-school graduation ceremonies will disentangle the truth facing incoming university freshmen. What may help the transition, though, is how these teens face the next steps in their education. At the risk of sounding platitudinal myself: integrity means a lot.
Adapting to the digital tools of today is no easy task, and realizing that A.I. is just that—a tool—is a step in the right direction. Knowing when and how to use such tools, however, is a matter of maturity and foresight. For example, there exist today A.I. programs, designed specifically for composing graduation speeches. That someone wouldn’t only venture to code such a program, but suffer such a lapse in dignity as to make it publicly available, astounds me. Like any tool, there is a time and place for A.I.’s utilization. Can a hammer be used to fix a window? Yes, but it’s probably not wise. Similarly, a vacuum cleaner could be used to drive a nail, but there are better options.
A graduation speech isn’t something every high school student is afforded the opportunity to give. It’s usually only allotted to a few, and even then, only for scholastic or community (or combined) reasons. Traditionally, this is done, because faculty and parents believe the speaker may have wisdom to impart on their classmates. The idea of passing that responsibility on to a computer program is unconscionable.
Therein lies the rub…
In a prospective world in which computers will make obsolete the majority of human employment, those that thrive will do so not only on the merits of their output, but on their creativity. Advanced programming may have the ability to quantify values faster, and more accurately, than a human, or streamline output to a higher degree, but matters of originality and ingenuity are strictly human enterprises. Outsourcing inspiration to a load of 1s and 0s belittles more than a graduate’s mental integrity, it lowers the value of the entire species. If the words spoken by an orator are not their own, structurally as well as verbatim—however well-trodden or repetitious in nature—then all hope is truly lost.
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I graduated high school in 2002. As erewhile professed, it was a much different time than today. When offered the opportunity to speak (i.e. when I was told I was going to have to do it), it was a bit stressful, but I did it. To this day, I’m still reminded by those present at the ceremony how much they liked my speech. (In 2019, when I stopped by my old stomping grounds to compete in a Spartan Race, individuals from my past actually brought up the speech—17 years after the fact.) Even recently, through a private Facebook post, some friends (and former faculty members) I’ve known for decades still referred to it as “epic” and “the best speech,” while others were still able to recite quotes from it. A speech, given only once, imbued enough creativity for others to recite parts of it 20 years later? I’m in no way braggadocious, but I feel that should be the goal of any graduate speaker—provide words with lasting effect. Don’t leave it up to some machine.
Was my speech platitudinal? Of course it was; I was seventeen and only knew what I knew of graduation speeches from T.V., movies, and other highly-influential media forms—the harbingers of all things colloquial/platitudinal. But, one’s lack of life experience shouldn’t be detrimental to creativity or originality. Sometimes, it’s just a message’s presentation that allows it to stand the test of time.
By today’s standards, my speech would likely be termed “meme-laden,” or something to that effect, but it predates social media by several years. Memes, however, are not a new concept. In fact, the idea of the “meme” was posited by Richard Dawkins in his book, The Selfish Gene, way back in 1976 (eight years before I was born). Even David Foster Wallace, in a 1988 essay, entitled Fictional Futures and the Conspicuously Young, discusses friendships and childhood play as being somewhat of a regurgitation of television and cinematic storylines either quoted or reenacted through the act of recreation. People react to what they know, and what a populace knows is dependent on the eras in which they lived, coupled with their preferred outlets of cultural absorption. And these influences compound over time.
Someone who grew up and passed away in the 1800s, for example, wouldn’t have known what a television is, let alone understood a Simpsons reference or Seinfeld quote. That said, there is nothing wrong with a 2025 graduate referencing social media, video games, or whatever the heck a Skibidi Toilet is, so long as they come to its integration within the body of the oral text in an honest and meaningful way—a human way.
Ultimately, what I’m trying to say is, those who will survive (and thrive) in this frightening, new world of digital overreach will be those who embrace creativity over conformity. A.I. isn’t going anywhere, but just like any novel tool of an era, it should be both feared and respected. Implement it at will, but don’t allow it to become a substitute for humanity. Remember to think—sometimes it’s a reactive action, and sometimes it’s preemptive. Sometimes it’s conscious, sometimes unconscious. Regardless: think, analyze, adapt.
That’s how you’ll survive.
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Below is my 2002 graduation speech. For context, this was given less than a year after the 9/11 attacks (hence, the reference to Apocalypse Now). Honestly, by trading COVID-19 for 9/11, given the general ambiguity of the reference, nothing would need to be altered, with the exception of the graduation year, for this speech to become applicable to a modern audience. It’s tempting to want to edit many of these lines in hindsight, but this is the speech as I gave it…and there’s no changing the past. It took me ~25 minutes to write and I used no sources [and no A.I.]. (Also, yes, I took some liberties with DEAD M[E]N Walking, as it should technically be singular. Lastly, I originally wanted to end with the movie title, DON’T BE A MENACE TO SOUTH CENTRAL WHILE DRINKING YOUR JUICE IN THE HOOD, but opted for the Star Wars quote instead. Which is a better choice, I leave to the reader’s discretion.)
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Graduation Speech
William Shakespeare once said, “All the world is a stage.” Well, if he was correct, it recently occurred to me, tonight is the end of the theatrical trailer. And it seemed to me, as well, that what I wanted to say tonight could best be said by stringing together a series of film titles. So, bear with me, for soon we will all be…GONE WITH THE WIND. IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, and all of the blood, sweat, and tears that we’ve poured into these past 12 years of it have prepared us for THIS, our veritable “opening night.” Within a few mere minutes, every one of you will be taking the plunge into the LIMELIGHT to accept the greatest achievement of your life to this date. But what brought you here? How have the past 4 years influenced your lives? ANALYZE THIS:
FAR AND AWAY, four years ago, we all drifted into the auditorium, bustling with energy from our previous summer days. We were GUNG-HO…ready to learn, to make new friends, to pour our hearts and souls into this RISKY BUSINESS known as high school. Within the next few weeks, however, many of us were DAZED AND CONFUSED, sometimes it even seemed like the halls were full of DEAD MEN WALKING. Sure, in the first few months of adjustment, thoughts of “Is this AS GOOD AS IT GETS?” and “I’ll go PSYCHO if I have another quiz in Spanish” were running through our heads. Of course, it was ROCKY at the start, but we were all able to STAND AND DELIVER.
As freshman year turned into sophomore year and sophomore to junior, we all found our ROOTS. We watched as our favorite teachers turned from GRUMPY OLD MEN to GRUMPIER OLD MEN, as friends left and others came, and we joined clubs to escape the ENTRAPMENT of homework. For some, sports were a getaway. From TRAINING DAY to season’s end, they stuck to it FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME. Still, for THE OTHERS, perhaps it was THE SOUND OF MUSIC that allowed them to relax. In the end,…we all found abilities in doing things once ALIEN to us. Still, from scholastics to activities, the previous 3 years of high school were all in preparation for our senior year and WHAT DREAMS MAY COME.
Senior year specifically stood out to me, as I’m sure it had for the rest of you as well. It was the BOILING POINT…THE WHOLE 9 YARDS. Whether you strove to be an APT PUPIL, or ALMOST FAMOUS amongst your peers, it all came down to this year. During our senior year, we witnessed the BIRTH OF A NATION at a time when it seemed like APOCALYPSE NOW. It seems rather ironic that such CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER occurred during THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES.
This year, we all had A NIGHT TO REMEMBER at the Prom, followed soon after by our senior outing. While the two events may have had a DOUBLE IMPACT on you, keep in mind a third experience. As THE REMAINS OF THE DAY come to a close, and with our all night party only hours away, this night will be our FINAL DESTINATION as a class. When the graduation day has subsided and the party is over, your friends and your classmates will be GONE IN 60 SECONDS…or so.
The point, plain and simple, is…this is your senior year, YOUR trailer has ended and your film is just beginning. For some of you, tonight will mark “THE GREAT ESCAPE,” but keep in mind…IT’S A MAD MAD MAD MAD WORLD out there, to which you all have paved your own PATHS OF GLORY through what you have learned at this institution. Many of you may feel like A CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF now, feeling THE STING as you prepare to enter the great RAT RACE…but it’s OK. You have all proved that YOU have the personalities and abilities to DIE HARD: WITH A VENGENCE on the true BATTLEFIELD: EARTH. FROM HERE TO ETERNITY, think not of these diplomas as another high school MEMENTO, another reminder of the days past, but as the opening scene of your ultimate performance, LIFE. Earning your diplomas, you have demonstrated your strengths, proclaiming that you all have A BEAUTIFUL MIND.
Thank you, Class of 2002, for the memories…
AND MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU!!!!
