Dozens of students didn’t have their names called while they walked across the stage due to an AI “technical issue.”
ARIZONA, USA — A graduation ceremony in Arizona was disrupted after a mishap with an artificial intelligence name-reading system.
During the May 15 graduation ceremony for students at Glendale Community College, some reported their names being skipped while they walked across the stage.
Videos posted to social media showed dozens of students were impacted by what the college district called a “technical issue.”
College president Tiffany Hernandez took to the stage to explain the mishap.
“We’re using a new AI system,” she said, which was immediately met with boos. “That is a lesson learned for us.”
She apologized for the mistake while still getting booed and yelled at by the crowd. Hernandez told the graduates they could not walk the stage a second time to have their names read while they did so.
“Each of you were able to walk the stage and get a picture, which is what I would hope is the most meaningful,” she said. “I am so sorry. There’s plenty of opportunities, I hope, to take some really good pictures and to celebrate you with your loved ones as well.”
After a few minutes and strong reactions from the crowd, the decision was reversed and graduates whose names were skipped were called up to the stage to walk again.
This time two people say the graduates’ names as they crossed the stage.
Maricopa Community Colleges released the following statement:
“During one of our commencement ceremonies, there was a technical issue that impacted the reading of some graduate names.
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. We have also communicated directly with graduates to apologize for the experience.
We are incredibly proud of all our graduates and are taking steps to ensure an issue like this does not occur again.”