As the classes of 2026 take the stage this graduation season, there is perhaps no topic more inevitable than artificial intelligence. Technology promises great innovations, but it also leaves young people anxious about their career prospects and whether four years of college were really worth it in today’s job market. And even CEOs of Fortune 500 companies are still trying to figure out how to use AI in truly useful ways.
When Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian sat down to prepare his commencement address for Emory University, he tested AI as a time-saving shortcut — but ultimately found the results unsatisfactory.
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“When writing these words, out of curiosity, I asked the AI to prepare the speech. And I was amazed at how quickly and easily it was generated,” Bastian told the Emory graduates.
“But I also noticed a lack of soul and warmth in the text. It wasn’t my personal voice, and it didn’t express my genuine appreciation for the opportunity to share my thoughts with thousands of you. You want to hear from me, not some algorithm trying to be me.”
So instead of delivering a tepid AI-created speech, the 68-year-old executive scrapped the draft entirely.
“Then rest assured,” he said. “I threw everything away and went to paper and pencil”, drawing applause from the audience.
Advice for Gen Z: Preserve your authenticity and avoid taking shortcuts
In an era where companies are increasingly adopting AI to maximize productivity, some executives have gone so far as to create digital replicas of themselves. For example, CEOs at Klarna and Zoom have been testing avatars and AI agents capable of participating in meetings or delivering messages from their seats.
For Bastian, however, AI works best as a tool to improve work — not to replace workers. He told graduates that authenticity and character remain some of the most difficult qualities for technology to replicate — and the most important to protect.
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“The most important asset you have is your name,” he told the graduates. “That’s your brand. That’s what you stand for. And there’s only one person who can take that away from you. That person is you.”
The message reflects a philosophy that shaped Bastian’s own trajectory in the American corporate world.
He began his career as an auditor at Price Waterhouse (now PwC) before working at PepsiCo. He joined Delta Air Lines in 1998 as vice president of finance and, in 2005, became chief financial officer.
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A decade later, he took on the role of CEO and helped transform Delta into one of the giants in the airline industry, with a market value of over US$45 billion.
But, Bastian added, over the course of his career he’s realized that lasting success rarely comes from taking shortcuts.
“Character doesn’t appear when life is easy. Character appears when times and decisions are difficult. Oftentimes, doing the right thing comes at a cost. But I always prefer to think of it as an investment — a smart investment,” he said.
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“I’ve had a lot of important decisions made throughout my career, and I have to admit: taking a shortcut or taking the easy way out is sometimes quite tempting. But it never yields lasting results or truly effective solutions.”
Human skills surpass technical skills, says Delta CEO
No matter how much technology advances, the people around you remain the most important part of any career, according to Bastian.
“My best advice is to make sure you take care of the people who helped you get there,” he previously told Fortune editor-in-chief Alyson Shontell.
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Speaking on the Titans and Disruptors of Industry podcast, Bastian said that leadership is often associated with confidence, ambition, energy and vision — but that these characteristics are limited in scope without a solid foundation in human relationships.
“There is also a very important characteristic: humility, along with the willingness to listen more than talk, ensuring that you value people’s work and being able to connect with them,” he said.
Bastian repeated a similar message in his speech to the graduates, arguing that curiosity, humility, gratitude and kindness are as important as technical knowledge — although he admitted that finding the right balance is not always easy.
“I have learned more from my failures than my successes have ever taught me,” he told the graduates. “That’s where real learning happens and where confidence is born. So don’t be afraid to take risks and bet on yourself.”
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