School axes plans to deploy AI robot after discovering disturbing ties

A New York school district has axed its plan to deploy a $60,000 humanoid robot named Sally after discovering the manufacturer is linked to Sєx dolls. 

The Salamanca City Central School District, located on the Seneca Nation Reservation near Buffalo, announced earlier this month that it was partnering with Realbotix to bring a humanoid robot to its classroom. 

The pilot program was supposed to be offered to students as an ‘educational resource for a small group of students’ enrolled in specialist courses, the school said on Instagram. 

Teachers and parents pushed back, worrying how it would affect children’s learning and the employment of teachers. 

Realbotix’s products are focused on education and healthcare initiatives, but a teacher pointed out that the firm’s sister company, Intima LLC, produces Sєx dolls.

‘A robot built by a company ᴀssociated with Sєx dolls has no business in our classrooms,’ Melinda Person, New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) said, according to Fox 6 Now. 

‘The future of education isn’t more artificial intelligence. It’s more authentic human intelligence – more relationships, more mentorship, and more opportunities for every child to be seen, known, and inspired by a great teacher,’ Person told the Daily Mail. 

Realbotix’s products are focused on education and healthcare initiatives. The pilot program was supposed to be offered as an ‘educational resource for a small group of students’

The school has now put the program on hold as it works with the company to ‘enhance student data privacy agreements,’ it said on Friday. 

The NYSUT had previously denounced the introduction of the robot to classrooms. 

In May, NYSUT called for limitations on screen time and student-facing AI, saying in a press release that educational decisions should be driven by educators and parents and not technology. 

The union has also pushed for students to become ‘disconnected’ from technology in schools. In September, it will be hosting a conference in Albany to discuss the future in New York’s education. 

New York ranks first among the 50 states for education, followed by Connecticut and Mᴀssachusetts, World Population Review said. 

It recently outranked neighboring Mᴀssachusetts, which dropped to third this year.

Superintendent Dr Mark Beehler initially defended the decision, saying the program would have ‘safeguards for content and privacy’ and that the robot will not provide ‘inappropriate, inaccurate, or biased information’, according to WKBW. 

‘It enables personalized learning, supports students outside the school walls, and better meets the needs of diverse and reluctant learners,’ he said, speaking before the U-turn. 

Superintendent Dr Mark Beehler initially defended the decision, saying the program would have ‘safeguards for content and privacy’

‘This partnership gives all students controlled, equitable access to safe and powerful AI resources while fostering learning – not replacing it.’ 

The superintendent went on to say that the district is embracing AI because they know it will be a ‘significant factor for our students in the workplace.’ 

He also said the system the AI runs on is a closed one, with data and cloud servers remaining on campus. 

‘Realbotixs will have no personally identifiable information about our particular students,’ he said. 

He added that the robot is a stationary object and will not be ‘walking through the halls.’ 

He said parents should not worry as the robot would not give students answers, but ‘ᴀssists the student in getting to an answer.’  

‘It is not going to replace teachers. It doesn’t replace the learning,’ he said. 

Realbotix told the Daily Mail in a statement last week that the robot is a first-of-its-kind and was specifically designed with education in mind. 

The NYSUT has denounced the introduction of the robot to classrooms

‘The partnership also gives educators an opportunity to evaluate these technologies in a controlled classroom environment under district oversight,’ it said. 

It also cut down any rumors that the robot has any similarity to those found in the Sєx industry. 

‘The Salamanca robot is a newly manufactured, purpose-built educational unit; no existing product or hardware is being modified or repurposed for the school,’ the company Daily Mail. 

The Daily Mail has reached out to Beehler and Realbotix for comment.