Salamanca school district pauses AI robot deployment after backlash

The Salamanca City Central School District in upstate New York has paused a plan to deploy ‘Sally,’ an AI-powered humanoid robot, following significant backlash from residents, educators, and state officials. The school board had previously approved a purchase of approximately $57,590 to $60,000 from the company Realbotix.

District officials, including Superintendent Mark Beehler, stated the robot was intended to assist high school students in robotics and technology classes rather than replace teachers. However, concerns were raised regarding student data privacy and the manufacturer's ties to a company that produces hyper-realistic sex dolls. Melinda Person, president of New York State United Teachers, argued that a company associated with such products has no place in classrooms.

New York State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa also expressed concerns regarding the robot's role in the classroom. The district is currently working to establish enhanced student data privacy agreements and is conducting community outreach while the pilot project remains on hold.