New York City bans AI use for elementary and middle school students

New York City public schools will prohibit the use of artificial intelligence tools for students from pre-K through eighth grade during the 2026-2027 school year. The policy, affecting over 500,000 students, aims to protect the development of independent thinking and fundamental skills by preventing reliance on chatbots and automated assistants.

Chancellor of Schools Kamar Samuels stated that students learn best through “productive struggle” and that no algorithm can replicate the process of wrestling with difficult problems. While younger students face a moratorium, high school students will still be permitted to use AI. For older students, the district plans to implement bi-annual classes to teach AI literacy, critical thinking, and how to evaluate the technology's limitations.

This decision follows broader concerns regarding the cognitive impact of generative AI. Recent research presented at the Conference on Language Modeling suggests that reliance on AI tools can erode critical cognitive faculties. In experiments involving mathematical equations and reading comprehension, participants using AI performed better initially but showed a significant drop in problem-solving rates and an increase in skipped questions once the AI assistance was removed.