New York state senators have introduced the first-of-its-kind bill to ban humanoid robots from performing teaching duties in schools, responding to a school district's plan to deploy an AI-powered robot as a teaching assistant. The legislation would prohibit AI-enabled humanoid robots from delivering classroom instruction, providing one-on-one tutoring, grading work, or performing other teaching functions in public and charter schools.

What Prompted the Robot Ban?

The bill emerged directly from reporting about Salamanca City Central School District's partnership with Realbotix, a technology company developing humanoid robots for education. The district planned to introduce a robot named Sally into classrooms this fall. Sally features lifelike silicone skin, long hair, and a range of upper-body movements and facial expressions, powered by artificial intelligence alongside a digital avatar.

After the plan drew national attention and backlash from local parents, New York's state Education Commissioner Betty Rosa sent the district a letter expressing concern about "the effect that a humanoid robot may have within a high school classroom." The district subsequently paused the project on July 24 while it worked through student data privacy agreements with the state.

Senate Education Chair Shelley Mayer introduced the legislation after reading about the Salamanca project. She emphasized that education requires human interaction, not machine replacement.

"As someone who cares about kids and education and how we learn, not just academically, but socially, that all requires human interaction. This is absolutely replacing a human being with a machine for instruction and other functions of education, and it shouldn't be marketed to any school in the United States," said Shelley Mayer.

Shelley Mayer, Senate Education Chair

How Would the Bill Actually Work?

• Scope of Prohibition: The bill would require all school districts and charter schools to adopt written policies explicitly prohibiting AI-enabled humanoid robots from teaching, tutoring, grading, or performing other instructional duties.
• Timeline for Consideration: The legislature will consider the new bill when it reconvenes in January 2027, giving lawmakers time to debate the measure before a potential vote.
• Broader Policy Framework: Senate Education Chair Mayer indicated this is "the first step in what's going to be a much larger conversation about AI in New York schools," suggesting additional regulations may follow.

What Do Tech Companies Say About the Ban?

Realbotix CEO Andrew Kiguel pushed back against the legislation, arguing it was premature and based on assumptions rather than evidence. He contended that the technology is designed to assist educators, not replace them.

"What concerns us about this bill is that it appears to have been introduced without anyone involved having seen the technology in action or evaluated a live pilot. The Salamanca project that prompted this bill has not even been deployed. Making a sweeping statewide prohibition on that basis, before any facts or evidence exists, is a premature step," said Andrew Kiguel.

Andrew Kiguel, CEO at Realbotix

Kiguel expressed willingness to demonstrate the technology to legislators so "policy can be based on knowledge, not assumption".

Kiguel

What's Driving Broader Scrutiny of AI in Schools?

The robot proposal has unfolded amid growing national and state-level concern about educational technology oversight. Parents have formed advocacy groups pushing for stronger AI oversight, clearer screen time guidelines, and more input before districts purchase new tech products. In May, the New York State United Teachers union called for strict limits on AI and screen time in schools. Last month, New York City Public Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels announced an educational technology purchasing freeze until the school system finalizes guidance on technology procurement.

Senator Kristen Gonzalez, a co-sponsor of the humanoid robot bill, emphasized that schools should only adopt technologies supported by research evidence. She noted there is no existing research on how AI-powered robots affect the social and emotional development of children.

Earlier in the summer, the state Senate and Assembly unanimously passed Gonzalez's separate legislation to restrict AI chatbots from interacting with minors when they contain unsafe features. That measure is awaiting the governor's approval. Gonzalez argued this chatbot safeguard would have prevented the Salamanca situation and would help slow adoption of unregulated AI tools in classrooms.

Both the humanoid robot ban and the chatbot safety bill are supported by the state teachers union, which is also calling for the legislature to establish clear, enforceable statewide guardrails for AI in schools. Senate Education Chair Mayer framed the issue as deeply personal for parents and educators, noting that schools need greater scrutiny over how education funding is spent, particularly when it goes to for-profit technology companies.