AI name reader stumbles at a community college graduation

Glendale Community College in Arizona used a new AI system to read graduates' names at a May 2026 commencement ceremony. The names it announced did not match the students crossing the stage. The on-screen name display froze, and the ceremony stopped at least twice. One graduate heard her name minutes after she had already walked. When the college president explained the problem on stage, the audience booed, and she called it a lesson learned. The college said a technical issue affected some graduate names. It apologized to graduates directly and said it was taking steps to keep it from happening again.