The controversy at Northeastern University over using AI to announce students’ names at graduation highlights a growing tension many institutions face: how to balance technological innovation with human-centered experiences, especially at emotionally meaningful milestones like commencement.
What’s at the Core of the Students’ Frustration?
Dehumanization of a Personal Moment:
Students like Henry Bova and Sophia Seremetis felt the AI name reader stripped a layer of authenticity from a major life achievement. Hearing your name called by a real person — someone representing the institution you’ve spent years with — is symbolic. Replacing that with an AI voice, even a high-quality one, created a sense of disconnection.Mixed Messaging About AI Use:
Northeastern promotes AI heavily, even offering access to tools like Claude, but simultaneously limits students’ use of AI in academic contexts. This inconsistency — where AI is embraced by administrators but restricted for students — creates confusion and resentment.Perceived Prioritization of Efficiency Over Emotion:
Universities defend tools like Tassel for their accuracy and logistical benefits, but for many students, speed isn’t the point of graduation. It’s the emotional impact of being publicly honored that matters. The AI may get the name right — but to some, it feels like the moment was handled by a machine, not celebrated by a community.Lack of Transparency:
Students said they weren’t clearly informed that they could opt for a human re-recording. This led to feelings of exclusion or regret, further undermining trust in the system.Broader Anxiety About AI in the Workforce:
Many students, particularly in creative fields, see AI as more of a threat than a tool. That their university — a place meant to prepare them for the future — would showcase AI even during graduation reinforces fears about being replaced or undervalued.
Why Universities Might Be Missing the Mark
Universities like Northeastern are leaning into AI to signal innovation and modernity, both to prospective students and industry partners. But moments like graduation are deeply symbolic and high-touch by nature. Deploying AI here can feel like a tone-deaf application of a tool meant for convenience rather than connection.
There’s a broader lesson in stakeholder-centered design: Just because AI can do something doesn’t mean it should — especially in spaces where emotional resonance, ritual, and recognition matter more than efficiency.
A Path Forward
Hybrid Approaches: Let students opt in or out of AI name reading. Some may not mind; others will care deeply.
Greater Transparency: Communicate clearly about how the process works and what options are available.
Human Oversight: Even if AI is used, involve real people (faculty or community leaders) in the process to reinforce the sense of personal recognition.
Align Policy with Practice: Universities need to reconcile their AI policies across academic and administrative uses to avoid sending mixed messages.
Final Thought
For many graduates, the use of AI to announce their names didn’t just feel robotic — it felt like a missed opportunity to honor years of effort with humanity. As AI becomes more integrated into education, universities will need to learn when to lean in — and when to step back.