After backlash, Upstate NY school district pauses plan to add humanoid robot to classroom
www.syracuse.com

... A Western New York school district has halted its plans to place a humanoid robot in a classroom after a New York Focus report on the plan sparked fierce debate over the use of artificial intelligence in schools and backlash from local parents.

Salamanca City Central School District announced in a Facebook post Friday afternoon that its pilot project with tech company Realbotix has been put on hold as school officials "work through enhanced student data privacy agreements" with the state education agency and engage with community members.

The news comes hours after state Education Commissioner Betty Rosa sent a letter informing Salamanca Superintendent Mark Beehler that "the Department remains concerned about the effect that a humanoid robot may have within a high school classroom." According to the letter, the department met with the district to discuss the robot plan earlier this week.

"Many parents, teachers, and stakeholders are understandably concerned about the presence of artificial intelligence technology in classrooms, particularly when it involves robots that resemble humans," Rosa wrote.

The district had planned to introduce the robot to high school students this fall, along with an artificial intelligence teacher's assistant program that allowed students to interact with an avatar of the robot on laptops. The $57,590 investment was approved at a local school board meeting last month. ...