AI voice to announce names at University of New Hampshire graduation

For the second year running, the University of New Hampshire is planning to use recordings of an AI-generated voice when announcing the names of graduates at its ceremony next month.

According to WMUR9, the university will ensure that names are being pronounced correctly. “This process aims to take the potential for human error out of this momentous occasion for our students,” a spokesperson told the outlet.

Some students have complained about the decision. One noted that the use of artificial intelligence makes the ceremony less personal and also pointed to AI’s notoriously high use of water and electricity. Some students have opted out of having the AI say their name.

In a similar controversy last year at Northeastern University, students said they felt slighted by the university’s unwillingness to personalize the milestone for its students. One student said the decision was “disrespectful, lazy and, frankly, on-brand for Northeastern, a university that has prioritized its stature as a technology-forward university at every possible turn.”