This spring, D’Youville University in Buffalo, New York, made news with a historic choice: their commencement speaker was not a person. Rather than speaking directly to the graduating class of 2024, Hanson Robotics’ humanoid robot Sophia delivered their parting words of wisdom.
Numerous responses were triggered by the announcement. With artificial intelligence serving as the year’s theme, the institution showcased its dedication to innovation by pointing to Sophia as a means of embracing technology and introducing students to a topical societal issue. Lorrie Clemo, president of the university, described it as an opportunity to “prepare students for both the opportunities and challenges of the future.”
Not everyone, though, agreed. With almost 2,500 signatures, a student petition expressed disdain and a sense of alienation from their educational experience. The petition contended that having a human speaker would more accurately convey their achievements and the value of interpersonal relationships, particularly in the wake of the pandemic’s virtual graduations.
The university acknowledged these concerns. They offered a traditional ceremony led by the chief mission officer, but interestingly, no students opted for this alternative. According to university officials, everyone who registered for the traditional ceremony ultimately chose to attend the event featuring Sophia. Vice president for student affairs, Benjamin Grant, explained this as a testament to the university’s success in fostering discussions around AI.
Sophia’s speech itself adhered to well-worn commencement speech motifs. She promoted making a difference, pursuing passions, and continuing learning. Notably, she emphasized—a recurrent subject in such speeches—the need of accepting failure as a teaching tool.
The choice of D’Youville University to have an AI speaker at commencement has generated a lot of discussion. The institution views it as a success in its objective to expose students to pertinent themes and spark talks about the future and the ever-growing role of AI in our world, even though some graduates felt betrayed. Whether this turns into a regular occurrence or a singular incident in D’Youville’s history is yet to be determined.