Child's next teacher could be a sex robot (gizmodo.com)

The Salamanca City Central School District in New York has announced plans to invest $57,590 in an AI-driven robot named “Sally,” raising eyebrows in the AI/ML community. This robot will essentially serve as an interface for large language models (LLMs), prompting questions about the necessity and efficacy of such an expensive addition to classrooms when less costly alternatives, like laptops, could achieve similar outcomes. The company behind Sally, Realbotix, previously known for its relationship with Abyss Creations, which manufactures life-sized sex dolls with upcoming AI capabilities, adds an unsettling layer to the project's implications. The integration of such robots into educational settings highlights growing concerns about the potential role of AI in replacing human educators. While companies may argue that these robots can help tackle issues like student loneliness, critics are wary of how classroom interactions might contribute to future AI training datasets, raising ethical questions surrounding privacy and consent. As the line between companionship and education blurs, the community is left to ponder the broader repercussions of deploying humanoid robots in schools, including the unsettling idea of a future where robots fulfill not only educational roles but also social and emotional needs in an increasingly automated world.