BUFFALO, N.Y. — D'Youville University is taking a different approach for this year's commencement speech at graduation.
The school announced their spring 2024 commencement speaker will be ... an Artificial Intelligence (AI) robot.
The humanoid robot, which is named Sophia, is expected to be witnessed by more than 2,000 students, staff, and family at the Harborcenter on May 11.
“A major role of higher education is to be an incubator for innovation, and to prepare students for both the opportunities and challenges of the future,” President Lorrie Clemo, PhD, said. “This event will represent an intersection of technology and education. As our students celebrate an important life milestone, we hope to keep them thinking big as they move onto careers that promote wellness and respond to the healthcare crisis our society is facing.”
Once word got out about the planned commencement "speaker," some students and staff were not happy with the university's choice.
Students and faculty drew up a petition with nearly 2,000 signatures on it in opposition to the robot.
"I think it's odd that the college is promoting AI technology when it's the very thing that's opposed," one student said.
While D'Youville is still planning to go ahead with the AI robot, they are planning a traditional commencement speak at a second ceremony that will be held on the same date and time as the original, but this one will be at the Kavinoky Theatre.
D'Youville says it has spent the past year-long campaign bringing awareness and education at the school.
Sophia is expected to provide the "last lecture" about the student's accomplishments through the year with an an interview-style discussion with John Rizk, D’Youville University Student Government Association President, and candidate in the accelerated Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree program.
“I use AI every day, multiple times a day,” Rizk said. “I am much more productive and organized having AI in my pocket to help me with daily tasks. AI to me is what the calculator was to my parents. I’m excited to interview Sophia and help affirm AI is not going away, and that my generation needs to figure out how to appropriately deal with it.”
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