New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced a one-year ban on the use of artificial intelligence tools by most students in the city’s public elementary and middle schools, as officials seek to limit the technology’s impact on learning and classroom relationships.
The policy, announced on Wednesday, will suspend the use of about 40 AI-powered educational tools currently available in New York City schools.
It will affect roughly 600,000 students up to eighth grade. High school students will still be able to use AI in certain circumstances, while teachers will be permitted to use the technology for tasks such as lesson planning and scheduling.
Mamdani said the decision was driven by concerns that students need direct interaction with teachers and classmates to develop essential skills.
“Children need teachers and human connection in order to learn and grow,” Mamdani told reporters.
He said students should have opportunities to work with their peers, develop relationships with educators and learn how to deal with difficult problems without relying on AI.
The policy comes as school districts across the United States are trying to establish rules for increasingly sophisticated AI tools in classrooms.
New York City previously restricted the use of ChatGPT in public schools shortly after the chatbot was launched in 2022. The restriction was later lifted as education officials began exploring ways to use AI under controlled conditions.
The latest move marks a shift towards a more cautious approach, reflecting concerns about whether widespread access to AI could affect students’ critical-thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Other major U.S. school districts, including Los Angeles, are also examining how AI should be used in education.
Google, Anthropic and Microsoft did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Microsoft, which has invested in OpenAI, has previously said New York City schools introduced a customised AI-powered teaching assistant after the earlier ChatGPT restrictions were lifted.
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says the U.S. must act to prevent war after Tehran sent a “strong and rational response&r...
Cyclone Murasu struck India's eastern coast on Tuesday, bringing powerful winds and forcing thousands to evacuate, just a week after another de...
Energy companies at ADIPEC 2026 are seeking to boost oil and gas supplies, attract investment and harness artificial intelligence as conflict in th...
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says the U.S. must act to prevent war after Tehran sent a “strong and rational response” to Washington. Meanwhile, U.S. forces have reportedly carried out limited strikes against Iranian targets, including Qeshm Island,
Hundreds of millions of U.S. citizens head to the polls on 3 November to elect the House of Representatives and Senate. How they vote could influence the direction of Donald Trump’s remaining 26 months in office and the outcomes of the Ukraine and Iran conflicts.
A six-day humanitarian ceasefire in the Russian-held Ukrainian town of Oleshky ended on Sunday, 1 November, after facilitating aid deliveries and civilian evacuations.
Iranian negotiators held a third consecutive day of talks with Qatari mediators in Doha on Sunday, 1 November, as diplomatic efforts to end the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran continue amid fears of renewed military action.
A powerful El Niño is driving extreme weather worldwide, leaving millions facing drought, wildfires and destructive storms as governments scramble to respond to the growing crisis.
Energy companies at ADIPEC 2026 are seeking to boost oil and gas supplies, attract investment and harness artificial intelligence as conflict in the Middle East disrupts global energy markets and keeps oil prices above $100 a barrel.
French high school students returned to protests on Monday, but demonstrations were far smaller than those seen before the two-week school break. Attempts to blockade schools were reported in several cities, including Paris, Marseille and Rennes.
The U.S. will host Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Abu Dhabi next week for the first peace talks mediated by Washington since February, U.S.Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has said.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 3 November, covering five developments in technology, from major cyberattacks and data breaches to advances in military AI and Europe's transition to digital communications.
North Korea has denied U.S. allegations that it was behind a $6 billion cryptocurrency theft from Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange. Kim Yo Jong, sister of leader Kim Jong Un, called the accusations “absurd rhetoric” and a political provocation.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment