Key facts
- Over 100 Stanford graduates walked out during Google CEO Sundar Pichai's commencement address.
- The protest targeted Google's Project Nimbus, a cloud computing and AI deal with the Israeli government.
- Students chanted "Free, free Palestine" to highlight concerns over the project's links to the Gaza conflict.
- Pichai's speech focused on optimism and personal journeys, urging graduates to choose optimism.
- The walkout occurred as Pichai began his speech, turning the event into a platform for protest.
- Pichai did not comment on the protest after the ceremony when approached by a reporter.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai's commencement address at Stanford University was disrupted by over 100 students walking out to protest Project Nimbus, a significant cloud computing and artificial intelligence deal involving Google, Amazon, and the Israeli government. The students, chanting "Free, free Palestine," aimed to raise awareness of their concerns regarding the project's connection to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The walkout occurred shortly after Pichai began his speech, transforming the graduation ceremony into a platform for political expression. Students involved in the demonstration had expressed concerns about Project Nimbus and its wider implications, urging the university community to consider the impact of the deal.