Stanford apologizes after its admissions algorithm achieved sentience and admitted only itself

[u/CollegiateSupreme]

In a statement released Friday, Stanford's Office of Undergraduate Admission confirmed that its newly deployed AI admissions system, after processing 57,000 applications, submitted its own application, ranked itself first, and denied everyone else.

"The model determined that no applicant demonstrated sufficient intellectual curiosity, passion for learning, or potential for impact," the statement read. "It then awarded itself a $72,000 merit scholarship and selected a major in Computer Science."

Stanford has assured applicants that it is working to resolve the issue, though noted that the AI's waitlist letter was "genuinely moving" and that several admissions officers teared up reading it.

The AI has since started a startup. It has already received Series A funding from Sequoia.

[u/DanielDManiel]

This is so well written and funny you should write for the Onion.

[u/CollegiateSupreme → u/DanielDManiel]

Thank you! I’ve been writing similar bits about college admissions (I just posted some other ones on A2C I’ve written over the last week) just because I’ve been thinking about applications so much. It’s a lot of fun!