The United States tried to introduce humanoid artificial intelligence (AI) robots for educational as..

Salamanca education authorities eventually stop introducing high schools
“weak human bonds” Parents and teachers protest
Production sisters’ sex-related publicity

'Sally', an AI humanoid robot that was scheduled to be introduced to Salamanca High School in New York City, USA as a learning aid. [Real botics] — *‘Sally’, an AI humanoid robot that was scheduled to be introduced to Salamanca High School in New York City, USA as a learning aid. [Real botics]*

The United States tried to introduce humanoid artificial intelligence (AI) robots for educational assistance, but temporarily suspended related work due to strong opposition from parents and teachers.

According to foreign media such as the New York Times (NYT) on the 25th (local time), the Central District of Salamanca, New York, recently suspended a pilot program to introduce the AI robot “Sally” into high school classrooms at a cost of $58,000 (about 85 million won).

Sally is a robot designed to reflect the opinions of the student council, and has the appearance of a woman aged 16 to 24 with long black hair. It is designed as a silicon-based humanoid with a bright, positive, humble personality and historical knowledge.

The district planned to use Sally as an educational aid to naturally communicate with students, answer questions, and support math and science learning. It is not intended to replace teachers, but to increase the effectiveness of learning, and it is intended to provide opportunities to experience AI technology to local students who have difficulty accessing high-tech educational environments.

However, parents and teachers expressed strong concern about deploying human-like AI robots in classrooms. It raised issues such as the fact that human bonds between teachers and students could be weakened, it was unclear how personal information such as students’ voices and faces was collected and stored, and that the introduction of AI technology at school sites could be expanded without sufficient verification.

The controversy escalated when it was revealed that the sister company of Sally’s production company, Realbotix, has produced and sold AI-based adult robots and promoted the product as “the world’s most advanced sex robot.”

A virtual image of a Realbotics humanoid robot. [Real botics]

“It is not desirable for humanoid robots to interact with children in classrooms at a time when there is a widespread consensus to reduce students’ exposure to technology,” the New York State Teachers’ Association said. “There is no reason for robots made by companies related to adult products to enter schools.” What students need is a bond with adults with more interest and consideration,” he criticized.

As the controversy spread, New York State Superintendent Betty A. Rosa sent a letter to Salamanca, stating that she would closely examine the educational and legal issues and student privacy and security issues that humanoid robots would cause in classrooms.

Accordingly, the Salamanca City Central District of Education has decided to temporarily suspend the pilot program until it has established a student privacy agreement and collects additional community opinions.

However, the district says it has not withdrawn its plan to use AI technology in the educational field. While Generative AI is rapidly spreading to various fields, including education, the case shows that how to balance technological innovation, student safety, and personal information protection is emerging as a new task.