New York lawmakers propose ban on AI and humanoid robots in schools

New York lawmakers are introducing legislation to restrict the use of artificial intelligence in classrooms. Senate Bill S10133 and Assembly Bill A9190 aim to prohibit most AI tools from student-facing instruction in grades pre-K through eighth. While the bills would allow educators to use AI for administrative tasks, lesson planning, and scheduling, they seek to limit student use to ensure foundational social and academic skills are developed through human-led instruction.

The legislative push follows controversy in the Salamanca City Central School District, which had planned to pilot a humanoid robot named ‘Sally’ developed by Realbotix. The project was placed on hold after the New York State Education Department expressed concerns regarding its impact on high school classrooms and student data privacy.

Proposed laws would specifically ban AI-enabled humanoid robots from performing teacher duties, such as classroom instruction, tutoring, and grading. Supporters, including the New York State United Teachers, argue for protective policies against unregulated educational technology, while opponents warn that such bans could create equity gaps for certain students.