Graduation Speech

Introduction

• Thanks to President Garber and President Gay
• Thanks to the Harvard faculty, Harvard Corporation, friends and family
• Congratulations to the class of 2024 for their hard work

Global Context

• The world has become more dystopian since 2021
• Technology as an accelerant of conflict and violence
• Example: Philippines as a testing ground for American tech companies

Social Media and Disinformation

• Negative impact of social media: platform design exploited for power and money
• Examples: 2016 U.S. election and Capitol attack
• Personal attacks due to online presence and disinformation

Lessons Learned

• "You don't know who you are until you test yourself"
• Importance of truthful information and its relation to democracy

Current Challenges

• Polarization and fear in society
• Protests and division in the United States
• Role of technology in accelerating conflict

Three Ways to Improve

1. Choose Your Best Self
   • Stay focused on your goals and values
   • Reflect on the importance of power and money
2. Turn Crisis into Opportunity
   • Accept that crisis is constant
   • Prepare for the worst-case scenarios
3. Be Vulnerable
   • Build strong bonds and restore trust
   • Be the first to lower your guard in relationships and negotiations

Impact of Technology

• Deep fakes and chatbots complicate trust in information
• Layoffs in security teams of tech companies
• Need to reform Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act

Conclusion

• Importance of faith in humanity and compassion
• Ubuntu: "I am because we are"
• Call to action for the class of 2024
• Create a more compassionate, equal, and sustainable world

Final Message

• Education at Harvard provides the necessary tools
• Need to work together for a better future