AI name-reading system malfunctions at Glendale Community College graduation, pausing ceremony twice

At Glendale Community College's commencement ceremony, an AI system tasked with the apparently insurmountable challenge of reading names off a list failed spectacularly — names didn't match the graduates walking across the stage, the display froze, and the ceremony had to be paused at least twice. Graduate Grace Reimer only realized something was wrong when her family — self-described as "a pretty loud family" — stayed suspiciously quiet as she crossed the stage.

GCC President Tiffany Hernandez informed the audience mid-ceremony that they were "using a new AI system as our reader," which was met with boos. The college's after-the-fact statement called it a "technical issue" and promised steps to prevent a recurrence. Reimer put it more plainly: "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."