Thousands of students turned their tassel in Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday during the spring commencement ceremony. 

Harry Sideris, CEO of Duke Energy and NC State alumnus, served as the commencement speaker. 

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The event kicked off around 9 a.m. with a few words from NC State University Chancellor Kevin Howell. 

"NC State is proud to be the people's university, a significant force in North Carolina's economic vitality, and dedicated to improving the lives of all North Carolinians," Howell said. 

Sideris took the stage, encouraging students that "when opportunity knocks, don't say no."

"Don't worry if you haven't found exactly what lights you up yet. Wherever you are in your journey, here's my advice to you - embrace the uncomfortable," Sideris said. 

Graduating amidst the rise of AI

A recent study from Harvard Business School analyzed nearly all U.S. job postings from 2019 to March of 2025. Researchers found that openings for routine, automation-prone roles fell 13% after ChatGPT’s debut – while demand for more analytical, technical, and creative jobs grew 20%. 

WRAL News asked graduates if they felt like AI creates opportunity or disruption. 

“I did an internship before, and in there, they have talked about the need for like AI as like an aid, because we believe AI is more so like something that speeds up the process,” said Sharath Kumar Rameshbabu, a computer science graduate.

While some graduates told WRAL News they felt like AI creates opportunities, some parents don’t share the same optimism as their kids, who are entering the workforce that has changed drastically since they were in their shoes.

“I worry a little bit about the career field narrowing and truncating a little bit due to increased usage of AI with lower usage of safety guardrails for using the technology,” Linda Dextre said.

But for graduates, it seems the presence of artificial intelligence is also a reminder of the importance of their own abilities.

“In a world where AI is so prominent and everything is just computer-based, me going into healthcare, I feel like that’s something that you can’t replicate,” said Maritza Delgado, a psychology graduate.

Rameshbabu said she believes it can be used as a tool. 

"Using my own skills and my beliefs alongside as a tool always has aided me in my college career, and I hope I would use similar situations for when I'm going in my career as well."