Humanoid robot to enter an American high school.
A New York school district has launched a pilot program that will introduce a humanoid robot, named Sally, together with an artificial intelligence teaching assistant at Salamanca High School. The robot, purchased for $57,590, will support STEM learning through natural conversations, facial expressions and personalized educational activities. According to the technology company Realbotix, the initiative is designed to complement classroom instruction rather than replace teachers, while also providing students with supervised access to emerging AI tools.
Teachers question the educational and ethical impact.
The project has generated strong opposition from teachers and their unions, who argue that introducing a human-like robot into the classroom is inappropriate and could undermine the role of educators. Union representatives also expressed concerns about student privacy, data collection, software security and the increasing reliance on technology in schools. Furthermore, they emphasized that New York has recently encouraged limiting excessive technology use in classrooms and called for the pilot program to be suspended until broader public consultation and stronger safeguards are established.
Native American community raises cultural concerns.
The decision to test the robot at Salamanca High School has also been criticized by members of the local Native American community. Nearly 40% of the school’s students are Native American, and several residents described the project as culturally insensitive due to the historical trauma associated with educational experimentation and Native American boarding schools. Community members argued that introducing experimental technology in a school serving Indigenous students risks repeating patterns of marginalization and may negatively affect students’ social and cognitive development.
Authorities urge caution over AI in education.
While Realbotix maintains that the program is intended only to assist teachers and enrich learning experiences, state education officials have expressed serious reservations. The New York State Department of Education warned about potential risks involving student privacy, insufficient safeguards and the possibility that artificial intelligence could perform responsibilities that should remain under the supervision of qualified professionals. Education leaders stressed that technology can support teaching, but human judgment, accountability and personal interaction must remain at the center of the learning process.
Reference
Sainato, M. (2026, July 25). ‘Really inappropriate’: teachers decry plan for humanoid robot in New York high school. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/25/new-york-humanoid-robot-teachers-school