GCC had used the tech to read the names of graduates at the ceremony. However, the AI mixed up or skipped hundreds of names, and the students had to walk again.
The error comes as artificial intelligence disrupts higher education across the nation, although those problems typically occur in the classroom — not at graduation.
"This ceremony was supposed to be something big for me," said Grace Reimer, a Glendale resident who graduated with an associate's degree in fine arts. "The fact that the school stood up there and laughed about it as they were explaining what was going on really hurt, because they did just ruin one of the biggest moments in my life."
According to Reimer, the ceremony started going off the rails soon after the name reading began. Graduates held cards that they scanned for the AI system to read. It wasn't long before the names on the big screen and the names being played aloud did not match the people who were on stage receiving their diplomas.
In photos of Reimer holding her degree on stage, the incorrect name and degree are listed.
GCC President Tiffany Hernandez addressed the problem after an awkward pause during the May 15 ceremony, according to a livestream video of the event.
“Here's what's happening. We're using a new AI system as our reader,” Hernandez said, receiving boos from the crowd. “That is a lesson learned for us.”
It was a disappointing moment for Mariah Chavez, 30, who worked hard to balance completing her early childhood program and prerequisites for nursing school while caring for a newborn baby. Chavez wanted her 5-year-old son to see her graduate because he is graduating from kindergarten.
"He wasn't able to point me out until I was walking back to sit down, and that breaks my heart," Chavez said.
Initially, Hernandez said graduates who did not hear their names read at the right time would not be able to walk the stage again.
“What we were able to do, though, is each of you were able to walk the stage and get a picture, which is what I would hope would be the most meaningful, meaningful, um —” Hernandez said, as the boos began again.
A few moments later, leaders changed course. Saying that “pivoting works best,” Hernandez said students who would like to hear their names could walk the stage again. Some graduates and their families were already headed out the door.
The second time around, the names were read by a human being.
“During one of our commencement ceremonies, there was a technical issue that impacted the reading of some graduate names,” Lindsey Wilson, the chief marketing and communications officer for Maricopa Community Colleges, said in a written statement. “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.”
Graduates who spoke with The Republic noted that their class syllabi contained strict rules about artificial intelligence. Students can be expelled, suspended or failed if they are caught using AI, said Reimer, who has plans to pursue a bachelor's degree in music education.
The AI catastrophe also led to a quip from another GCC leader on stage.
“I have the part of the ceremony that doesn't require AI, so as soon as we figure this out, we're going to be working next,” said Lorelei Konopka, the vice president of academic affairs who led the conferral of degrees and certificates.
After the graduation day chaos concluded, Hernandez wrote an apology to students.
“We are incredibly proud of all our graduates and are taking steps to ensure an issue like this does not occur again,” Wilson said in a written statement.
Reimer said she ran the school's letter through a couple of AI detectors.
"It has pulled back that it was written with AI," Reimer said. "Which I find hilarious, but also like what the heck, because you're, again, not being sincere about your apology."
AI was not used to write Hernandez's letter, Wilson said.
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