Arizona graduates boo after AI program glitches while reading names at commencement ceremony

Graduates at an Arizona community college erupted in boos after an AI-powered name-reading system malfunctioned during their commencement ceremony, causing names to be skipped, mispronounced or announced incorrectly.

The incident happened during Glendale Community College’s graduation ceremony on May 15, when the artificial intelligence program used to announce student names experienced repeated technical problems.

Videos from the ceremony showed confused graduates walking across the stage while incorrect names appeared on screens or no names were read at all, prompting loud boos from students and families in attendance.

College president Tiffany Hernandez addressed the crowd during the disruption and initially said the issue could not be corrected during the ceremony, a response that drew even louder backlash from attendees.

Graduate Grace Reimer later criticised the school’s reliance on AI for such an important milestone, saying the moment felt impersonal and disappointing. She told People the ceremony lacked “thoughtfulness” because of the decision to automate name announcements.

Following the backlash, the college reversed course and allowed affected students to walk the stage again with a human announcer reading their names correctly. The school also issued a formal apology to graduates and their families, calling the malfunction a “lesson learned” and promising to review the incident to prevent future problems.

The incident quickly went viral online and has become part of a broader national conversation about growing frustration with the use of artificial intelligence in educational settings and public events.