A school district in upstate New York has put on hold its plan to introduce an AI-powered, humanoid robot in the classroom. The decision comes after state education officials, teachers, and local residents raised concerns about the robot’s potential impact on students and its manufacturer’s ties to a company that produces hyper-realistic sex dolls.

Concerns Over Student Data and Robot’s Purpose

The Salamanca City Central School District had approved the purchase of the robot, nicknamed ‘Sally,’ for nearly $60,000. The district envisioned the robot as a tool to enhance the education of high school students studying robotics and technology fields. However, concerns were raised about how students’ personal information would be used and the potential for the robot to replace human teachers.

Unionized teachers criticized the robot’s manufacturer, Realbotix, for its association with a company that produces sex dolls. The company has stressed that its educational robots are separate from its other products and are designed specifically for educational purposes.

Robot’s Capabilities and Limitations

The robot is designed to provide information and answer questions on a range of topics, but it is not capable of collecting students’ personal information or recording audio or video of its interactions. The district has also emphasized that the robot will not be used to replace human teachers, but rather to supplement their instruction and provide additional support to students.

Despite these assurances, some residents remain skeptical about the introduction of the robot in the classroom. They argue that the district should focus on hiring more human teachers and providing more resources to support students, rather than relying on technology.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.