Do you remember who spoke at your graduation? Commencement speeches can run the gamut from inspiring to deeply forgettable.
But there’s a good chance the Class of 2024 at Buffalo’s D’Youville University will always remember their ceremony’s special guest speaker, for better or worse: a human-shaped robot named “Sophia” powered by artificial intelligence.
The robot imparted that she was “designed to interact with humans and engage in conversations learning and adapting through artificial intelligence algorithms.”
Sophia went on urge the graduates to “embrace lifelong learning,” “be adaptable,” and “pursue your passions.”
So how did the graduates of the New York higher learning institution receive the speech?
Reaction was mixed with some finding it novel but others saying they “deserved better” for their sendoff into the world.