New York Schools Halt AI Robot Teacher Project Amid Controversy
WHO:
ABC News - Joplin Ficek, a Salamanca High School graduate, expressed skepticism about the need for robots in education, stating, “They just need to hire more people who are willing to put in the effort for the children.”
NY Post - Salamanca City Central School District's board
ABC News - Mark Beehler, Superintendent
ABC News - Melinda Person, president of the labor union New York State United Teachers
ABC News - Betty Rosa, State Education Commissioner
ABC News - Realbotix LLC, manufacturer of the robot "Sally"
ABC News - Intima LLC, sister company of Realbotix
WHAT:
ABC News - The Salamanca City Central School District's board approved the nearly $60,000 purchase from Realbotix with visions that “Sally” would enhance the education of high school students studying robotics and technology fields.
ABC News - The pilot program for the robot remains on hold as the district works through “enhanced student data privacy agreements” with state education officials and continues outreach to the community.
ABC News - Superintendent Mark Beehler stated, “There is no possible way a robot can replace a human in a school. Even if it were possible, it would in no way be in the best interest of students. Teaching is a human-to-human process.”
ABC News - Beehler argued that it is crucial for isolated districts like Salamanca to find new ways to introduce cutting-edge products into classrooms, stating, “In most cases, our students need to travel 1-2 hours to have opportunities to see emergent technology.”
ABC News - The Salamanca City Central School District's board approved the nearly $60,000 purchase from Realbotix with visions that “Sally” would enhance the education of high school students studying robotics and technology fields.
ABC News - The pilot program for the robot remains on hold as the district works through “enhanced student data privacy agreements” with state education officials and continues outreach to the community.
ABC News - The robot "Sally" will be able to move her arms and hands but have nonworking legs.
ABC News - The robot is designed to consume roughly the same amount of energy as a laptop.
ABC News - Realbotix stated that "Sally" is a “newly manufactured, purpose-built educational unit” with no modified or repurposed hardware.
ABC News - The robot is designed to assist high school students studying robotics and technology.
ABC News - The robot "Sally" is stationary, has long brown hair, and is programmed to avoid inappropriate topics.
ABC News - The pilot program for the robot is on hold while the district works on enhanced student data privacy agreements.
ABC News - The robot is designed to help students learn how to maintain and update it with new approved content and troubleshoot issues.
ABC News - The robot will not be able to search the public internet or draw answers from unvetted generative AI services.
ABC News - The robot is programmed to avoid inappropriate topics such as sex, violence, and gambling.
ABC News - Superintendent Mark Beehler stated, “Having a difficult time programming an Arduino board? Don’t even know what an Arduino board is? Ask Sally and she can explain it.”
ABC News - The robot "Sally" will be able to move her arms and hands but have nonworking legs.
ABC News - The robot is designed to consume roughly the same amount of energy as a laptop.
ABC News - Realbotix stated that "Sally" is a “newly manufactured, purpose-built educational unit” with no modified or repurposed hardware.
ABC News - The robot is designed to assist high school students studying robotics and technology.
ABC News - The robot "Sally" is stationary, has long brown hair, and is programmed to avoid inappropriate topics.
ABC News - The pilot program for the robot is on hold while the district works on enhanced student data privacy agreements.
ABC News - The robot is designed to help students learn about programming and troubleshooting.
ABC News - The robot will not collect personal information, record audio or video, or send data back to Realbotix.
ABC News - Student authentication will be managed through the district's existing systems, with information remaining encrypted and under district control.
ABC News - Realbotix emphasized that the two subsidiaries, Realbotix LLC and Intima LLC, maintain their own management, personnel, payroll, facilities, manufacturing operations, product development, and market strategies.
ABC News - The robot is designed to help students learn about programming and troubleshooting.
ABC News - The robot will not collect personal information, record audio or video, or send data back to Realbotix.
ABC News - Student authentication will be managed through the district's existing systems, with information remaining encrypted and under district control.
ABC News - The Salamanca City Central School District's board approved the nearly $60,000 purchase from Realbotix with visions that “Sally” would enhance the education of high school students studying robotics and technology fields.
ABC News - The pilot program for the robot remains on hold as the district works through “enhanced student data privacy agreements” with state education officials and continues outreach to the community.
ABC News - The Salamanca City Central School District's board approved the nearly $60,000 purchase from Realbotix with visions that “Sally” would enhance the education of high school students studying robotics and technology fields.
ABC News - The pilot program for the robot remains on hold as the district works through “enhanced student data privacy agreements” with state education officials and continues outreach to the community.
ABC News - The robot "Sally" will be able to move her arms and hands but have nonworking legs.
ABC News - The robot is designed to consume roughly the same amount of energy as a laptop.
ABC News - Realbotix stated that "Sally" is a “newly manufactured, purpose-built educational unit” with no modified or repurposed hardware.
ABC News - The robot is designed to assist high school students studying robotics and technology.
ABC News - The robot "Sally" is stationary, has long brown hair, and is programmed to avoid inappropriate topics.
ABC News - The pilot program for the robot is on hold while the district works on enhanced student data privacy agreements.
ABC News - The Salamanca City Central School District's board approved the nearly $60,000 purchase from Realbotix with visions that “Sally” would enhance the education of high school students studying robotics and technology fields.
ABC News - The pilot program for the robot remains on hold as the district works through “enhanced student data privacy agreements” with state education officials and continues outreach to the community.
ABC News - The robot is designed to help students learn how to maintain and update it with new approved content and troubleshoot issues.
ABC News - The robot will not be able to search the public internet or draw answers from unvetted generative AI services.
ABC News - The robot is programmed to avoid inappropriate topics such as sex, violence, and gambling.
ABC News - Superintendent Mark Beehler stated, “Having a difficult time programming an Arduino board? Don’t even know what an Arduino board is? Ask Sally and she can explain it.”
ABC News - The robot "Sally" will be able to move her arms and hands but have nonworking legs.
ABC News - The robot is designed to consume roughly the same amount of energy as a laptop.
ABC News - Realbotix stated that "Sally" is a “newly manufactured, purpose-built educational unit” with no modified or repurposed hardware.
NY Post - Plans to purchase a $60,000 AI classroom robot named "Sally" have been paused.
ABC News - The robot is designed to assist high school students studying robotics and technology.
ABC News - The robot "Sally" is stationary, has long brown hair, and is programmed to avoid inappropriate topics.
ABC News - The pilot program for the robot is on hold while the district works on enhanced student data privacy agreements.
WHERE:
NY Post - Salamanca City Central School District, located in upstate New York, near the Seneca Nation of Indians reservation.
ABC News - The district is located along the Allegheny River near the Pennsylvania state line.
WHEN:
ABC News - The district's board approved the purchase of the robot prior to the pause.
ABC News - A statement was posted on the district's Facebook page regarding the pause.
WHY:
ABC News - State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa expressed ongoing concerns about the robot’s role in the classroom, stating, “Although you confirmed that the robot would not have any role delivering classroom instruction, a recent presentation to the board characterized the robot as a ‘tutoring platform.’”
ABC News - State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa expressed ongoing concerns about the robot’s role in the classroom, stating that a recent presentation characterized the robot as a “tutoring platform.”
ABC News - Unionized teachers suggested the effort was a first step toward replacing flesh-and-bone educators, emphasizing that “Sally” should not be in classrooms due to its association with a company that produces sex dolls.
ABC News - Concerns were raised by state education officials, teachers, and local residents about the manufacturer's ties to a company producing hyper-realistic sex bots.
ABC News - Parents and teachers expressed worries about how students' personal information would be used.
ABC News - Unionized teachers suggested the robot could be a step toward replacing human educators.
ABC News - State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa expressed ongoing concerns about the robot’s role in the classroom, stating that a recent presentation characterized the robot as a “tutoring platform.”
ABC News - Unionized teachers suggested the effort was a first step toward replacing flesh-and-bone educators, emphasizing that “Sally” should not be in classrooms due to its association with a company that produces sex dolls.
ABC News - State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa expressed concerns about the robot’s role in the classroom, stating, “Although you confirmed that the robot would not have any role delivering classroom instruction, a recent presentation to the board characterized the robot as a ‘tutoring platform.’”
ABC News - Concerns were raised by state education officials, teachers, and local residents about the manufacturer's ties to a company producing hyper-realistic sex bots.
ABC News - Parents and teachers expressed worries about how students' personal information would be used.
ABC News - Unionized teachers suggested the robot could be a step toward replacing human educators.
HOW:
ABC News - Realbotix emphasized that the two subsidiaries, Realbotix LLC and Intima LLC, maintain their own management, personnel, payroll, facilities, manufacturing operations, product development, and market strategies.
ABC News - Beehler stated that the Las Vegas-based company Realbotix was a natural fit because its robots are already programmed with WozEd, a curriculum from Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak that the district uses.
ABC News - Realbotix emphasized that the two subsidiaries, Realbotix LLC and Intima LLC, maintain their own management, personnel, payroll, facilities, manufacturing operations, product development, and market strategies.
ABC News - The robot is designed to help students learn about programming and troubleshooting.
ABC News - The robot will not collect personal information, record audio or video, or send data back to Realbotix.
ABC News - Student authentication will be managed through the district's existing systems, with information remaining encrypted and under district control.
ABC News - Realbotix emphasized that the two subsidiaries, Realbotix LLC and Intima LLC, maintain their own management, personnel, payroll, facilities, manufacturing operations, product development, and market strategies.
ABC News - The robot is designed to help students learn about programming and troubleshooting.
ABC News - The robot will not collect personal information, record audio or video, or send data back to Realbotix.
ABC News - Student authentication will be managed through the district's existing systems, with information remaining encrypted and under district control.
(UPDATED July 29, 2026 19:23 UTC)
The Salamanca City Central School District's board has approved a nearly $60,000 purchase of a robot named "Sally," aimed at enhancing education for high school students in robotics and technology, although the pilot program is currently on hold due to ongoing discussions about student data privacy with state officials. Superintendent Mark Beehler emphasized that while the district seeks innovative ways to introduce technology into classrooms, he firmly believes that teaching should remain a human-to-human process and that robots cannot replace human educators. State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa has raised concerns about the robot's role, noting that while it won't deliver instruction, it was previously described as a "tutoring platform" in a presentation to the board.
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(UPDATED July 29, 2026 18:22 UTC)
The Salamanca City Central School District's board has approved a nearly $60,000 purchase of a robot named "Sally," which is intended to enhance the education of high school students studying robotics and technology. While the pilot program for Sally is currently on hold as the district finalizes enhanced student data privacy agreements, the robot is designed to assist students with programming and troubleshooting without collecting personal information or accessing the internet. Sally, a stationary unit with long brown hair, can move her arms and hands but has nonworking legs, and is programmed to avoid inappropriate topics while consuming roughly the same amount of energy as a laptop.
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(UPDATED July 29, 2026 16:23 UTC)
The Salamanca City Central School District's board has approved a nearly $60,000 purchase from Realbotix, aiming to enhance education in robotics and technology with a robot named “Sally.” However, the pilot program is currently on hold as the district navigates enhanced student data privacy agreements with state education officials and engages with the community. Salamanca High School graduate Joplin Ficek expressed skepticism about the need for robots in education, suggesting that hiring more dedicated staff would better serve the children.
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(UPDATED July 29, 2026 13:32 UTC)
The Salamanca City Central School District's board has approved a nearly $60,000 purchase of a robot named "Sally," which is intended to enhance education for high school students studying robotics and technology. However, the pilot program for "Sally" is currently on hold as the district navigates enhanced student data privacy agreements and addresses concerns from state education officials and local residents about the robot's ties to a company known for producing hyper-realistic sex dolls. Realbotix assures that "Sally" will not collect personal information or record audio or video, with student authentication managed through the district's existing encrypted systems.
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(UPDATED July 29, 2026 10:53 UTC)
The Salamanca City Central School District's board has approved a nearly $60,000 purchase of a robot named "Sally," aimed at enhancing education for high school students in robotics and technology fields. However, the pilot program is currently on hold as the district navigates enhanced student data privacy agreements and engages with the community. Concerns have been raised by State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa and unionized teachers, who worry that the robot's introduction could signal a move toward replacing human educators, especially given its association with a company known for producing sex dolls.
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(UPDATED July 29, 2026 00:16 UTC)
A new educational robot named "Sally" has been introduced, designed to help explain complex topics like programming an Arduino board, although it will have nonworking legs and will consume energy similar to that of a laptop. State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa has raised concerns about the robot's role in the classroom, noting that while it won't deliver instruction, it has been described as a "tutoring platform." Realbotix, the company behind Sally, has clarified that their subsidiaries operate independently in terms of management, personnel, and product development.
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(UPDATED July 28, 2026 23:21 UTC)
The Salamanca City Central School District has paused plans to purchase a $60,000 AI classroom robot named "Sally," which was intended to assist high school students in studying robotics and technology. Concerns from state education officials, teachers, and local residents about the manufacturer's connections to hyper-realistic sex bots, along with worries about student data privacy, led to the decision to hold off on the pilot program. The district's board had previously approved the purchase, and a statement regarding the pause was shared on their Facebook page.