A human announcer eventually took over to finish reading the students’ names
Credit: GCC Livestream/YouTube
NEED TO KNOW
- An Arizona community college apologized after an AI-powered system malfunctioned during graduation, causing some students’ names to be skipped or incorrectly announced
- Glendale Community College President Tiffany Hernandez told the crowd the school was using a “new AI system” during the ceremony, prompting loud boos from attendees
- Following backlash from graduates and families, the school allowed impacted students to walk the stage again while a human announcer read their names aloud
An Arizona community college is apologizing after a technical glitch involving an AI-powered name reader disrupted a recent graduation ceremony.
The incident occurred on May 15 during the commencement ceremony at Glendale Community College in Glendale, where the school used an AI system to read graduates' names aloud, according to AZFamily, Business Insider and NBC News.
Videos circulating of the moment online show confused graduates walking across the stage while incorrect names appeared on-screen or no names were read at all.
College President Tiffany Hernandez addressed the issue during the ceremony.
“Here's what's happening: We're using a new AI system as our reader,” Hernandez told the audience, which was met with loud boos.
“Yup, yup. So that is a lesson learned for us,” she continued. “I'm gonna have to disappoint many of you. We will not be able to walk the stage a second time in order to have the [correct] name on the screen … I'm so sorry.”
However, the school ultimately reversed course and allowed impacted students to return to the stage while a human announcer read their names aloud, per Business Insider.
Credit: Google Maps
While speaking to AZFamily, graduate Grace Reimer said the situation left her feeling uneasy.
“It didn't feel sincere and it kinda felt like they didn't care,” Reimer said of the school's decision to use AI for such a special moment in so many people's lives.
“I would have liked a little more thought to have gone into it rather than pushing something as simple as reading some names off to an AI device,” she added.
Reimer shared a formal apology letter to graduates and their families penned by the school's president on her TikTok following the incident.
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“On behalf of myself and the entire college, I want to extend a sincere apology for the experience many of you and your loved ones had during Friday's commencement ceremony,” Hernandez wrote in the letter. “We are actively reviewing what occurred and will take steps to ensure an issue like this does not happen again in the future.”
In a statement from Glendale Community College obtained by PEOPLE, a representative from the school confirmed that the college had “communicated directly with graduates to apologize for the experience.”
“While the issue was corrected during the ceremony, we are sorry for the disruption it caused during what should have been a celebratory moment for our graduates and their families,” they said. “We are incredibly proud of all our graduates and are taking steps to ensure an issue like this does not occur again.”
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