College graduation is often the best day of people's lives. It's years and years of work all culminating in one very special day. And they'll spend lots of money and time preparing to make sure the day is as perfect as it can be.
But, do you know what's infamously imperfect? AI. You might love it or hate it, or be on the fence about it, but one thing's for certain. It makes mistakes sometimes. And this mistake couldn't have come at a worse time.
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As reported by the New York Post, Glendale Community College was trialling a new AI powered reader for its graduation ceremony. But things weren't working very well.
Students were walking across the stage with completely different names being read out than the people there. Two women had a man's name being read out whilst they were receiving their diplomas.
This was in spite of the students giving up their information to the AI machine beforehand. Lots of names were also missed.
President Tiffany Hernandez explained the reason why things were going wrong - but she was booed almost immediately. "So here's what's happening. We're using a new AI system as our reader. Yep, yep. So that is a lesson learned for us."
While Hernandez previously said people wouldn't be allowed to walk across the stage again, this was something that was lifted.
Students Across the Country Have Disavowed AI
While this seems to be the first AI powered graduation, other colleges have mentioned the technology. Of course, the students didn't take too nicely to those, either.
During the Middle Tennessee State University's graduation ceremony, Big Machine CEO Scott Borchetta also mentioned AI. According to the New York Post, he said, "We are the agents of change and the agents of next, and this industry will change on you in a heartbeat. It has already changed more in the last 10 years than in the 50 years prior."
Not the most insane thing to say at first glance, right? But it was when he mentioned AI that things got a little heated.
"AI is rewriting production as we sit here." Upon getting booed, he jibed, "Hey, like I said, you can hear me now or pay me later. Then do something about it. It's a tool, make it work for you."
