Not Everything is an AI Problem

While I like AI as a technology, what I do not like is when it's used to solve non-problems which end up ruining important human experiences. Let's talk about Glendale Community College in Arizona where AI was implemented to read the names of students as they walk across the stage to receive their college diplomas.

What went wrong? Well, it malfunctioned, mismatched names and faces and ended up ruining the highlight of their higher education. Think: you've likely spent over $100,000 on an education, dedicated years of your life achieving it, and the final moment, one captured on video everywhere, shows you walking across the stage while someone else's name is called aloud. It gets worse, they didn't get a chance to walk across again. Yes, you read that right, no chance of walking that stage a 2nd time.

Was calling people's names out that much of a problem that an AI solution was needed? I think we would all universally agree, no. What changed? When did this problem compound? Who deemed it a problem? Why?

You see, in the technology world there are people who will find a reason, any reason, to play with a new technology. They get caught up in the "wow" of it, that it demonstrates great technological advances, that humans have come such a long way. What it really shows is the implementor's ego.

AI, while a powerful technology, should not be used to solve any problem, especially those where the human experience is at stake.