Overview
- An AI name‑reader used at Glendale Community College’s commencement on May 15 malfunctioned and mispronounced, mismatched, or skipped dozens of graduates’ names.
- President Tiffany Hernandez told the crowd the school was “using a new AI system as our reader,” a disclosure that drew loud boos and onstage apologies.
- After initially saying repeat walks would not be possible, college leaders reversed course and allowed affected students to re‑walk while a human announcer read their names.
- Glendale Community College and the Maricopa County Community College District apologized, said they have contacted graduates and pledged an internal review but declined to identify the AI vendor.
- The viral video has intensified student anger over visible uses of AI at ceremonies, fueled complaints about perceived hypocrisy over campus AI rules, and fits a broader pattern of boos at graduations that mention automation.