AI system misses names at graduation, students boo
The graduation ceremony at Glendale Community College was disrupted by a technical failure involving a new AI system used to announce student names. President Tiffany Hernandez confirmed the error, stating that the automated system skipped several graduates, forcing the event to pause for approximately ten minutes. As she explained that the AI reader was responsible for the omissions, the audience responded with boos, reflecting a broader skepticism toward artificial intelligence in public settings. During the halt, Vice President of Academic Affairs Lorelei Konopka briefly addressed the crowd, suggesting they wait while the college sought a solution. Hernandez eventually took the podium to apologize, initially noting that graduates would not be allowed to cross the stage a second time until the issue was resolved. However, the college quickly pivoted to a manual approach. Hernandez announced that a human announcer would call the remaining names to ensure every student was recognized. This transition was described by the president as a moment where "pivoting works best." The glitch was not limited to missing names; some students waited in anticipation without hearing their names called at all. Once the issue was corrected, students were permitted to walk across the stage again, this time with human voice-over. A college representative later clarified in an email to Business Insider that a technical issue had caused some graduates to be unnamed but emphasized that the problem was fixed during the ceremony. The institution apologized for the disruption to what should have been a celebratory moment and confirmed that direct communications were sent to affected graduates. The incident highlighted growing tensions regarding the integration of AI in traditional ceremonies. Graduate Grace Reimer noted the error when she noticed a lack of cheering during her walk, a stark contrast to her family's usual enthusiastic response. She shared a screenshot of a formal apology letter from President Hernandez on TikTok, though the initial letter sent to families did not explicitly mention the AI system. Hernandez noted in the letter that the college is actively reviewing the matter. This event mirrors similar friction seen at other commencement ceremonies this season. At the University of Arizona, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt faced booing after referencing AI and automation in his speech. Similarly, real estate executive Gloria Caulfield and Big Machine Records CEO Scott Borchetta encountered hostile reactions at the University of Central Florida and Middle Tennessee State University, respectively. Borchetta defended the technology in response, advising the crowd to view AI as a tool that can be made to work for them. The Glendale Community College incident serves as a cautionary tale about relying on unproven automated systems for high-stakes, personal moments, reinforcing the value of human oversight in critical processes.
