Beep! It’s not so much a college graduation as it is a self-checkout lane. More schools are using AI to announce the names of graduating students as they cross the stage and accept their diplomas. Just scan and go!
Here’s more background. (READ)
Colleges are using AI name readers to announce students' names during graduation ceremonies.
Students scan their phones like they're in a checkout line before an AI voice reads their names.
PACE University was seen using the technology during its commencement ceremony.
"Our names are getting read by AI at graduation ... getting the ick at my own graduation," said one student."
It is AI. We were directly told so! We gave a website spelling and it instantly gave us an audio," said the student."
PACE told us it was AI ... We had to type out phonetic spelling, then it instantly generated audio for us to preview."
Here’s an example of an AI graduation at PACE University in New York. (WATCH)
Colleges are using AI name readers to announce students' names during graduation ceremonies.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 21, 2025
Students scan their phones like they're in a checkout line before an AI voice reads their names.
PACE University was seen using the technology during its commencement ceremony.
"Our… pic.twitter.com/CbqtNFCA5e
Graduation now sounds like a grocery checkout lane.
— Barefoot Pregnant (@usuallypregnant) May 21, 2025
It really does.
Posters on X are divided on whether this is a good thing or if the traditional way is still the best. Many say it’s great for students with hard-to-pronounce names.
I’m completely okay with this.
— Walter Curt (@WCdispatch_) May 21, 2025
My school we had a 86 year old Army First Sergeant who couldn’t pronounce anyone’s name properly unless it was Smith or Steve.
Good use of Ai 😂
With the influx of foreign students it a good idea I think. Nobody knows how to pronounce peoples’ names.
— All American Truck Driver (@yerkillinme18) May 21, 2025
I like it honestly. No one can complain about mispronunciations
— Jacob Davison (@JDDavison93) May 21, 2025
No one likes having their name mangled by an announcer.
Others say it treats students like a barcoded product getting scanned at the grocery store.
JFC. Like merchandise. Obviously it's more "efficient," but you just killed the humanity. Pieces of meat at the grocery.
— Autism Capital 🧩 (@AutismCapital) May 21, 2025
These people graduate once at this level. Make it special lazy guy.
— Junkman (@socialjunkman) May 21, 2025
Tens of thousands of dollars in tuition, room, board, and other fees and expenses, the least they can do is get an actual human to read the names
— Bengals Aaron 🐅 (@BengalsAaron) May 22, 2025
To me, this is really dehumanizing!
— Kathleen Winchell ❤️🤍💙🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@KathleenWinche3) May 21, 2025
We get that perspective.
Some say it’s progress, but worry that removing humanity also removes potential hilarity.
I'd rather have this than what happened in our school where the announcer butchered three names back to back.
— Isaac (@IcedViews) May 21, 2025
Seems lazy, but has a side of ingenuity🤷♂️
I'm going to miss those videos of human announcers completely botching the names... so sad.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 21, 2025
Those are great!
This recent viral video puts the debate in perspective. (WATCH)
😆🤦♀️👇👇pic.twitter.com/IPtAG1LMHi
— Fran 🎳 (@VTX1300_rider) May 21, 2025
At some point, humans aren't going to talk to each other anymore, are they
— PeanutGallery (@peanutg53954578) May 21, 2025
The human touch can never be replaced.
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) May 21, 2025
Without humans, we lose humor. Maybe we should leave the scanner at the grocery store for our students’ big day.
