Salamanca City School District Deploys Humanoid Robot Teacher

The Salamanca City Central School District in western New York, located on the Seneca Nation reservation, will pilot a humanoid robot named Sally as a classroom teaching assistant this fall. The robot, built by Toronto‑based Realbotix, integrates the Optio AI platform to provide personalized, 24‑hour homework help and in‑class support for roughly 1,300 students, many from low‑income backgrounds.

Sally features lifelike silicone skin, expressive facial movements, and can retrieve a student’s prior interactions using a unique code. The system is closed, non‑internet‑connected, and programmed to redirect off‑topic conversations and respond with “I don’t know” when uncertain. The district’s $57,590 investment also includes an avatar version for laptop use and curriculum developed under Apple co‑founder Steve Wozniak’s STEM program. Superintendent Mark Beehler and Realbotix CEO Andrew Kiguel describe the deployment as a landmark moment for AI and robotics in education, while some community members voice concerns about adding advanced technology to an already challenged environment.