School District Puts AI Classroom Project on Hold

The school district located in Salamanca, New York, has stopped its plans of introducing a lifelike AI robotic technology in high school classrooms amid backlash from the teaching staff, parents, local people, and even state officials from the department of education. The program aimed at boosting science and technology studies will be put on hold while the school district considers privacy issues.

Robot 'Sally' Was Designed to Support STEM Learning

The Salamanca City Central School District decided to buy the humanoid robot for close to $60,000 from the company called Realbotix. It was claimed by school authorities that the robot would aid the pupils learning about robotics, programming and related technological courses but not substitute the teaching staff at the lessons.

As per Superintendent Mark Beehler, the students would be able to get explanations about the technical issues, solve problems of programming and gain more knowledge on functioning of the advanced robotics systems with the help of Sally. Additionally, the robot would allow them to gain practical skills in managing and updating the artificial intelligence devices. The educational content of Sally is based on the WozEd curriculum designed by Steve Wozniak, one of the founders of Apple.

Concerns Trigger Strong Backlash

However, despite the objectives of the district in terms of education, the plan was immediately met with skepticism. There were many people – parents, teachers, and residents – who felt that an almost human-like robot does not have a place in the classroom. Moreover, there were fears as to the link of Realbotix to another firm that produces ultra-realistic adult robots.

Furthermore, the New York State Education Department also raised some doubts about the issue of privacy, security, and the part that AI should play in education. The leaders of the teachers’ unions claimed that true learning requires strong relations between the students and the teacher, which cannot be created by any technological means.

District Says Teachers Will Remain Central

Sally was not meant to be a substitute for the teachers, the school authorities clarified. Rather, they considered her as an educational assistant that would support the learning process in the classrooms, while at the same time exposing the students to new technologies.

In any case, at the moment, the district has put off its plans to conduct the pilot project as it seeks to work with the state authorities on making improvements in student privacy protections, along with continuing talks with the local residents. Additionally, the firm itself has noted that Sally was created solely for the purposes of education and has nothing in common with its adult product line.