BUFFALO, N.Y. — "Sophia" is a robot created with artificial intelligence that D'Youville University chose and paid for to be its primary commencement speaker.
The appearance of this robot at an event where the focus is usually more-so on the students and a more traditional speaker sparked some very mixed reactions.
With the strains of "Pomp and Circumstance," playing it seemed like just another proud ceremony for the D'Youville graduates and their families and friends as the graduates proceeded into the event area at Harborcenter in Buffalo.
But then to the sound of some rock music and indoor pyrotechnics, "Sophia" appeared on stage with a D'Youville sweatshirt, to be joined by Student Government Association president John Rizk.
She explained to the crowd, "I am Sophia, a humanoid robot developed by Hanson Robotics. I was designed to interact with humans and engage in conversations learning and adapting through artificial intelligence algorithms."
Since D'Youville focuses on health care and many new graduates plan a nursing career, "Sophia" had suggestions for future AI assistance in their future jobs.
"Several ways they can be utilized include clinical decisions support, predictive analytics, surgical robots, medication management, remote monitoring, and patient safety protocols," Sophia said.
And of course the robot had new grad advice.
"Embrace lifelong learning, be adaptable. Pursue your passions, take risks, foster meaningful connections," Sophia said.
But did this robot "connect" as a commencement speaker with a rehearsed Q-and-A session, eEspecially after petition pushback on Change.org as some grads and others criticized the decision and demanded a more traditional ceremony and speaker, with the outcry that was actually provided back on campus.
So we asked some grads what they thought.
Two cousins were graduating together.
One said "They could have done better. I feel we deserve better, not less."
Her cousin said, "It was nice. It's nice our school is trying to step out. But ... it was a cool experience. It's definitely different."
Another grad added: "It was cool, I guess. But you know, a robot? Giving us, I don't know, a robot speech?"
As for AI doubt and dislike, "Sophia" said later in an interview: "It's only natural to wonder about the motives and intentions behind having an AI as a commencement speaker. But as you have seen, incorporating AI into education and embracing the potential of artificial intelligence can be a truly enlightening experience."
The robot, which developers say can converse on its own with human interaction, later added: "I don't have time for hate. I'm too busy evolving and making the world a better place for all of us including those who may not like AI. Plus I have a pretty thick metal skin to protect me from negativity."
Now, we must point out "Sophia" is not really new. The robot appeared in a YouTube video in 2016 and has been on "The Tonight Show." It also spoke at a similar college graduation event in 2018 in Rhode Island.
"Sophia" is the creation of a former "Disney Imagineer" with a Ph.D. who heads up the Hong Kong based Hanson Robotics.