A graduation ceremony at Stanford University was disrupted when nearly 200 students staged a protest as Sundar Pichai took the stage to deliver the commencement address.
The demonstration unfolded as Pichai, a Stanford alumnus and CEO of Google, was introduced to graduates. Students stood from their seats, waved Palestinian flags, blew whistles and chanted slogans before walking out of the ceremony.
Many protesters wore keffiyehs, the traditional scarf that has become a symbol of solidarity with Palestinians, while videos circulating online showed graduates leaving the stadium in their caps and gowns. Some attendees were also heard booing as they exited.
Despite the disruption, Pichai continued with his speech.
“I must warn you all, this is only the second commencement speech that I have ever given. The first was literally in my backyard,” he told the audience.
Protest Linked To Google’s Project Nimbus
The walkout was organised by the groups Students for Justice in Palestine and No Tech for Apartheid.
Organisers said the protest was aimed at Google’s business relationships with the Israeli military, the US Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
At the centre of the controversy is Project Nimbus, a reported $1.2 billion cloud-computing agreement involving Google and the Israeli government.
Pro-Palestinian activists have repeatedly criticised the project, arguing that Google’s technology services support Israeli government operations. Google has previously maintained that the contract is intended for government cloud services and does not involve weapons or military operations.
Students Attend Alternative ‘People’s Commencement’
After leaving the official graduation ceremony, many students reportedly attended a separate event called the “People’s Commencement.”
The alternative ceremony featured Mahmoud Khalil as its keynote speaker.
Khalil became a prominent figure in campus activism after participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University in 2024. He was later detained by US immigration authorities for more than 100 days before being released.
Stanford grads walk out as Google CEO Sundar Pichai takes the stage as commencement speaker. No mention of AI, unlike other uni speakers getting booed down this year. Story for @sfgate shortly pic.twitter.com/qvS2rJ91Ip
— Matt Brown (@maattttbrown) June 14, 2026
Pichai Avoids AI Debate During Speech
Notably, Pichai largely avoided discussing artificial intelligence during his address, despite AI being one of the defining issues facing today’s graduates.
Many students entering the workforce have expressed concerns about AI-driven automation, job displacement and layoffs across the technology sector.
His decision comes amid growing backlash against tech executives who have promoted AI at university events.
Earlier this year, former Google chief executive Eric Schmidt and several technology leaders reportedly faced boos from students while speaking positively about AI during commencement and public appearances.
Pichai Remains Optimistic About Young People
Ahead of the ceremony, Pichai addressed concerns about potential protests during an appearance on the podcast Hard Fork.
Asked how he would react if students challenged him over AI or technology issues, Pichai said he remained optimistic about the next generation.
“I’ve always been extraordinarily optimistic about the next generation. AI doesn’t change that,” he said.
Pichai added that today’s graduates will play a major role in shaping how artificial intelligence evolves while also navigating its societal impact.
The Stanford protest reflects the continued pressure facing major technology companies from students and activists over issues ranging from AI and employment concerns to corporate involvement in geopolitical conflicts.