What a longtime Google AI leader told UW computer science students at their graduation

June 13, 2026 - 21:07

Dean, a longtime leader in Google's AI efforts, acknowledged that the field is moving faster than ever. He told the students that they are entering the industry at a pivotal moment, one where the decisions made by engineers and researchers will directly shape how society uses powerful new tools. Rather than offering a purely celebratory speech, Dean focused on the practical challenges ahead. He warned that AI systems still suffer from bias, reliability issues, and a lack of common sense, and he called on the graduates to work on fixing those problems.

The speech also carried a personal note. Dean recalled his own time at the University of Washington and how the fundamentals he learned there carried him through decades of change in computing. He encouraged the students to stay curious, to collaborate across disciplines, and to remember that technology serves people, not the other way around. For many in the audience, the message was a grounding reminder that the hype around AI still needs to be matched by hard work and ethical care.