New York school pauses plan to deploy humanlike AI robot teacher after backlash (apnews.com)

The Salamanca City Central School District in New York has paused its plan to introduce "Sally," a humanoid AI robot teacher, amidst community backlash over privacy concerns and the robot’s ties to a company known for making hyper-realistic sex dolls. The nearly $60,000 purchase aimed to provide high school students with an innovative learning tool for robotics and technology. Superintendent Mark Beehler highlighted that Sally could assist with programming and troubleshooting, promoting hands-on learning. However, local educators and residents raised alarms about data privacy and ethical implications of having a robot associated with a sex doll company in the classroom. Despite assurances from district officials and Realbotix, the company behind Sally, regarding data security and the robot's educational role, skepticism remains. Critics argue that students need human relationships rather than robotic interactions, emphasizing that teaching is fundamentally a human-to-human process. Some locals expressed concerns that the initiative could signal a shift towards automating education, potentially undermining the role of teachers. As the district seeks to address these issues, it aims to enhance safeguards surrounding student data privacy and consult further with the community before proceeding with the pilot program.