The use of AI announcers during graduation ceremonies has seen mixed success, with recent incidents at Glendale Community College in Arizona showcasing the technology's flaws. Despite aiming for accuracy, the AI struggled to pronounce and deliver names correctly, causing significant disruption.

During the commencement ceremony, the AI system mispronounced several names and even skipped some, leading to a pause in proceedings as efforts were made to recover. President Tiffany Hernandez apologised to those affected but initially stated that students could not walk across the stage again. Eventually, however, these graduates received a second chance with human announcements.

The issue underscores concerns about AI’s role in personal events where human interaction is valued. Platforms like Tassel offer tools for name verification and generate AI-generated previews, but they can still fall short due to timing issues or automated nature of the process. Other solutions, such as StageClip's NameCheck, involve human practice with correct pronunciations.

The hybrid approach proposed by Glendale Community College could be a balance between efficiency and personal touch, ensuring no disruptions while maintaining a meaningful experience for students and their families. However, AI’s impersonal nature can sometimes detract from the emotional significance of such moments.