Comedian Ronny Chieng Calls for AI Destruction

During his keynote address at Harvard College Class Day, comedian Ronny Chieng delivered a provocative message to graduates, urging them to actively dismantle artificial intelligence. Chieng declared, "The mission of your generation is to destroy AI." He posited that AI ultimately makes less capable individuals less intelligent, citing their reliance on the technology for basic tasks.

Chieng pointed to a 2025 MIT study that warned of accumulated cognitive debt resulting from the overuse of large language models, distinguishing these concerns from AI applications in fields like medicine or physics. He contrasted his anti-AI stance with typical graduation speaker messages, noting that AI-favoring speakers often face negative reactions from audiences.

The comedian emphasized that the creative process itself, regardless of its difficulty, is the true reward. He asserted that individuals who prioritize AI shortcuts, particularly in artistic endeavors, miss the intrinsic value of creation. Chieng's sentiments align with observations made by other public figures, such as Seth Rogen, who has also criticized the perceived low quality of AI-generated content.