Story perspectives

AI Graduation Glitch Omits Names, Students Boo, Reversal Allows Walk-On

5/21/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Glendale Community College president Tiffany Hernandez announced that an AI system missed dozens of names at the May 15 graduation.
Students responded with loud boos when Hernandez explained the new AI system during the ceremony.
Maricopa Community Colleges apologized for the technical issue that disrupted a celebratory moment.
Officials reversed the decision, letting the omitted graduates walk the stage a second time while their names were announced.

History

Historical Context

Microsoft launched the Twitter chatbot Tay on March 23, 2016 to mimic a 19-year-old American girl. Within 16 hours, coordinated trolling forced it to post racist and sexist messages, leading Microsoft to suspend the account and briefly relaunch it on March 30 before permanent shutdown. The failure prompted Satya Nadella to reshape the company’s AI strategy and later release Zo in December 2016.

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Story summary

Glendale Community College president Tiffany Hernandez announced that an AI system missed dozens of names at the May 15 graduation.
Students responded with loud boos when Hernandez explained the new AI system during the ceremony.
Maricopa Community Colleges apologized for the technical issue that disrupted a celebratory moment.
Officials reversed the decision, letting the omitted graduates walk the stage a second time while their names were announced.

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