(Credit: Realbotix)
UPDATE 8/1: The school district has paused its pilot project with Realbotix following pushback from parents and teachers.
The robot teacher plan is "on hold while we work through enhanced student data privacy agreements with the New York State Education Department and continue engaging with our community and stakeholders," the Salamanca City Central School District said on Facebook.
"Ensuring that appropriate privacy protections are in place and incorporating input from our community are important parts of the process," it added.
That came after the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) took issue with Realbotix's previous focus on adult AI and sex dolls. "A robot built by a company associated with sex dolls has no business in our classrooms," NYSUT President Melinda Person said in a statement. "Our students don't need robots. They need real relationships with caring adults."
Original Story 7/19:
For better or worse, AI has wormed its way into America's classrooms, and it will soon take the shape of a humanoid robot in New York.
A robotic teaching assistant named "Sally" could be heading to classrooms in New York this fall. Sally is set to have a "lifelike appearance" with silicone skin and long brown hair, according to Andrew Kiguel, CEO of Realbotix, the start-up behind the new teaching assistant.
In an interview with New York Focus, Kiguel said the robot will be stationary and seated but have a "wide range" of upper-body movements and facial expressions. Students will reportedly be able to talk to the robot to receive personalized learning support based on the data it stores about their progress, after identifying themselves with their unique student ID.
Fittingly, the robot will initially be used only in the school's specialized AI and robotics course, but may be rolled out to other subjects later, depending on the success of the pilot. The course was designed by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak to increase children's interest in STEM.
Sally will make its debut at Salamanca High School, on the Allegany Indian Reservation, about 60 miles south of Buffalo, teaching juniors and seniors. The product is set to cost the district $57,590, according to the contract posted by the school board, New York Focus reports.
Many residents of Salamanca, which has above-average levels of poverty, have expressed opposition to the new teacher. “We already have so many issues in our community, including environmental issues. I just don’t understand the concept of adding AI onto that,” one parent said. "Bringing it into the school district is contradicting everything we believe, in my opinion.”
In a statement, the school district said the robot will “never replace teachers, staff members, or meaningful human interaction" and that human teachers will "remain at the center of every learning experience.” In addition, the school confirmed the new robot will not store students’ personal data, send data back to its parent company, or record any video or audio.
The rollout of AI in schools remains hotly contested by some. The New Yorker reported earlier this year that grassroots lobbying groups are calling on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to declare a two-year moratorium on the use of generative AI in NYC schools.
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