A New York school district has put plans to introduce a humanoid robot into classrooms on hold after fierce criticism from teachers, Indigenous community members and state education officials over the use of artificial intelligence in schools.
Salamanca High School, in western New York, had planned to launch a pilot programme this autumn featuring "Sally," a humanoid robot developed by Canadian company Realbotix, alongside an AI-powered teaching assistant called Optio.
The initiative was designed to support 11th- and 12th-grade science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) classes by providing personalised tutoring and interactive classroom assistance. School officials stressed that the technology would complement teachers rather than replace them.
The project quickly drew national attention because of Realbotix's corporate history. The company previously became known for developing highly realistic companion robots and is linked to a parent company that acquired Simulacra, a manufacturer of lifelike sex dolls.
Although Realbotix insists its education products are entirely separate from its adult-oriented business, critics argue the connection raises questions about the suitability of the company supplying technology for schools.
Opposition has also come from teachers' unions, which warn that introducing AI-powered humanoid robots into classrooms risks undermining the role of educators while creating unresolved concerns about student privacy, data protection and the growing reliance on technology in schools.
Members of the local Seneca Nation have criticised the decision to trial the programme in a district where a significant proportion of students are Indigenous, saying it echoes a long history of Native communities being subjected to educational experiments without meaningful consultation.
Following concerns raised by the New York State Education Department over privacy, safety and legal issues, the Salamanca City Central School District announced it was suspending the pilot while reviewing data protection measures and consulting with the community. The case has become a high-profile test of how far schools should go in integrating humanoid AI into education.
Read more:
U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Moscow for peace talks on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, two people familiar wi...
An Iranian tanker was hit by U.S. forces on Saturday near Iran's key oil export hub, Kharg Island, in the Gulf...
A Chinese national was pulled alive from a tunnel in Nepal on Saturday, authorities said, 10 days after a wall of ...
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that he thinks there is a chance of a peace being reached with Ukraine. He told the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia that he believed there was "a chance of finding a solution," to the conflict.
U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will visit Russia then Ukraine over the weekend, Russian state news agency TASS has reported, citing an unnamed source. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also said American envoys will visit the capitals of both countries.
The Iranian Health Ministry said at least 18 people were killed and 142 others injured in U.S. airstrikes carried out between 30 August and 2 September.
The Iranian Army has again struck at U.S. bases in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates in retaliation for U.S. attacks on southern and western parts of Iran late on Tuesday, which reportedly killed 18 people and injured more than 100 others.
U.S. efforts to squeeze Iran’s economy through an oil blockade and sanctions are becoming increasingly difficult for Tehran to withstand, according to three senior Iranian sources. Washington is escalating pressure in hopes of securing concessions in future negotiations.
The United States and China are preparing to hold their first official bilateral talks focused exclusively on artificial intelligence as concerns grow over the risks posed by increasingly capable AI systems.
AI may live in the cloud, but the infrastructure powering it is anything but virtual. As data centres consume ever more electricity and water, the race is on to find new ways to keep the machines running.
Hua Hong Semiconductor, China's second-largest contract chipmaker, is investing $2 billion to build a new fabrication plant in Wuxi, China as part of a push to expand capacity as domestic demand for AI-related chips outstrips what the industry can currently produce.
A humanoid robot developed by Chinese smartphone maker Honor has run 100 metres in 9.32 seconds, beating Usain Bolt's men's world record of 9.58 seconds, China's state broadcaster reported on Saturday.
An artificial intelligence agent running an experimental store in San Francisco has recommended dismissing a human employee after the worker repeatedly arrived late for shifts.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment