Stanford University's 135th commencement ceremony on June 14 saw a significant protest as over 100 students walked out during the keynote address delivered by Google CEO and alumnus Sundar Pichai. The demonstration was organized by pro-Palestinian student groups who oppose Google's participation in Project Nimbus, a controversial cloud computing and artificial intelligence contract with the Israeli government.
Students began leaving their seats in Stanford Stadium moments after Pichai took the stage. They chanted "Free, free Palestine" and carried Palestinian flags, making their stance clear to the assembled graduates and dignitaries. The protest had reportedly been planned weeks in advance by student activists.
Project Nimbus Sparks Controversy
At the heart of the protest is Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion cloud computing and AI contract awarded jointly to Google and Amazon by the Israeli government. Activists and some Google employees have criticized the project, expressing concerns that the technology could be used in ways that negatively impact Palestinians amidst ongoing conflict in Gaza. Protesters at Stanford emphasized that their action was aimed at drawing attention to the broader issue of Project Nimbus, rather than targeting Pichai personally.
Pichai Continues Speech Amidst Walkout
Despite the disruption, the commencement ceremony proceeded as scheduled. Sundar Pichai, who earned a master's degree from Stanford in 1995, continued his speech to the remaining audience. His address reportedly focused on themes of optimism, perseverance, and the importance of personal choices, drawing from his own experiences as a student who arrived at Stanford from India. Notably, Pichai avoided discussing artificial intelligence directly, a topic that has recently elicited negative reactions at other university commencement events. He did not directly acknowledge or respond to the protest during his remarks and left the venue without commenting on the demonstration.