Tech

A New York high school stopped using an AI-powered robot as a teacher after sparking strong reactions: “This is kind of creepy”

This is a use of technology that many people didn’t expect to see so soon.

Update: Jul 28th, 2026 23:38 CEST

Artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly common part of our daily lives. A decision by a New York high school has sparked strong reactions due to a use that many people did not expect to see so soon. The school decided to test a humanoid robot as an AI-powered digital teaching assistant; the program is set to launch in the fall of 2026 and has cost the school district $57,590. Yet, after a strong backlash by the community and teachers, the pilot project has been put on hold.

The robot named Sally was created by the company Realbotix, which emphasizes that she is capable of conversing, changing her facial expressions, and interacting with students in real time. In addition, she was offered personalized educational materials and will be available online 24 hours a day. Realbotix maintains that the technology will not replace teachers, but will be used under their supervision in science, technology, and engineering classes.

A project deemed inappropriate by the teachers’ union

The teachers’ union in the city of Salamanca, New York, called the project inappropriate and demanded more assurances before the robot enters the classrooms. Teachers are wondering whether conversations will be recorded, what data will be collected, and where it will be stored. The president of the New York State Teachers Federation has stated that “the answer to the challenges in education is not more screens, it’s not more algorithms, not more robots. What we need in our schools right now are more caring adults and more human connection.”