“Sally’s” presence in a classroom in a school district in southern New York state is on hold.
The Salamanca City Central School District planned to use an AI-powered, humanoid robot in the classroom this coming school year.
The district hit the pause button after state education officials, teachers and local residents raised concerns.
One concern was the maker’s ties to a company that produces realistic sex bots.
The district’s board approved the nearly $60,000 purchase from Realbotix so “Sally,” as the stationary robot with long dark hair has already been nicknamed, help high school students studying robotics and technology.
“Having a difficult time programming an Arduino board? Don’t even know what an Arduino board is? Ask Sally and she can explain it,” Superintendent Mark Beehler said. “The robot also provides opportunities for students to learn how the robot is maintained, how it is updated with new approved content, and how to troubleshoot issues.”
However, as news spread in the community, located on the Seneca Nation of Indians reservation and near the Pennsylvania border, parents and teachers voiced concerns about how students’ personal information would be used.
The teachers’ union focused on Realbotix’s sex doll sister company, but district officials and the company itself stressed the two manufacturers operate independently.
“A robot built by a company associated with sex dolls has no business in our classrooms,” Melinda Person, president of the labor union New York state United Teachers, said.
Currently, “Sally” is on hold as the district works through “enhanced student data privacy agreements” with the state education officials.
This district also continues to reach out to the community, according to a statement the district posted Friday on its Facebook page.
State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa said she remains concerned about the robot’s role in the classroom after her staff met with district officials.
“Although you confirmed that the robot would not have any role delivering classroom instruction, a recent presentation to the board characterized the robot as a ‘tutoring platform,’” Rosa wrote in a letter to the district Friday.
She also agreed with residents’ concerns about what data privacy and security protections would be in place.
The teachers union believe this was a first step toward replacing human teachers.
“Sally” will be able to move her arms and hands but have nonworking legs.
“Our students don’t need robots,” Person said. “They need real relationships with caring adults.”
Beehler stressed the pilot, which also includes rollout of a virtual, AI-powered teacher’s assistant and at-home tutoring program, is not about replacing staff.
“There is no possible way a robot can replace a human in a school,” he said. “Even if it were possible, it would in no way be in the best interest of students. Teaching is a human-to-human process.”