SALAMANCA, N.Y. — The Salamanca Central School District has put a pause on a pilot project that would include AI robots to be inside classrooms. This was announced on Friday on a statement posted on the school district’s social media.
Our pilot project with Realbotix is currently 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 statement added that privacy protection and community input is important.
Before this idea was put on hold, the Salamanca Central School District had planned to incorporate an AI-powered robot named Sally. This would involve a small group of students enrolled in STEAM courses. The district had noted that the addition of a robot in a classroom would support teachers and encourage students to experience artificial intelligence.
The New York State United Teachers had denounced this idea and described the increasing use of artificial intelligence as a serious problem, that can affect students educationally and mentally.
The NYSUT President Melinda Person released a statement after this was announced. The statement reads,
A robot built by a company associated with sex dolls has no business in our classrooms. Our students don’t need robots. They need real relationships with caring adults. Educators notice when students are struggling, celebrate when they succeed and help them discover who they can become. No robot can do that, no matter how lifelike its skin or specific its regional accent.