New York school district pauses humanoid robot pilot

Salamanca City Central School District announced on July 24 that it is pausing its pilot program with Toronto‑based technology firm Realbotix, which had planned to introduce a humanoid robot into a local high school. The decision follows a wave of criticism from educators, parents and community members who raised concerns about the use of artificial‑intelligence devices in classrooms and the handling of student information.

District officials said the suspension will allow time to negotiate stronger student data‑privacy agreements with the New York State Education Department and to continue consultations with stakeholders. The district emphasized that the pause is a precautionary measure while it addresses privacy safeguards and assesses community feedback before any further steps are taken.