New York State Looks To Ban Humanoid Robots In Schools

A few weeks ago, Salamanca City School District announced that they would be bringing a robot teacher into their classrooms, the first of its kind in New York State.

Read More: Robot Teacher to Be Used at Upstate New York School District

Well, after backlash from parents and teachers, the idea was scrapped, but the fight has continued in the New York State Senate...

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Backlash Against Robots in Schools

This all started on July 20th, 2026, when Salamanca City School District announced their intention to bring a Realbotix educational robot and digital avatar to their classrooms. It would have been a humanoid robot that acted as a tool for students to use.

The idea wasn't to have these robots take over teachers jobs, rather just to help them, by guiding students to the answer they need, as opposed to just giving it to them. Unfortunately for them, the program uses A.I., and parents and teachers were concerned about the effects of a human looking robot teaching their children and students.

Making Robots Illegal

That sounds like a headline from Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, but it's our reality. On July 29th, State Senator Shelley B. Mayer introduced Senate Bill S10671. The bill would ensure that all schools in the state adopt and implement a written policy governing the use of humanoid robots in schools.

Read More: Upstate NY's "Robot Teacher" Put on hold Due to Backlash

In addition, the bill makes sure that all schools prohibit the use of any artificial intelligence-enabled humanoid robot in an instructional capacity. So, for the time being, robots won't be taking over the workforce in New York, but the bill has to pass first.