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A public school in New York has sparked controversy after introducing an AI-powered humanoid robot as a teaching assistant in a high school classroom
Salamanca High School, located on the Allegany territory of the Seneca Nation, is the first school to pilot Sally, a synthetic humanoid developed by Toronto-based robotics firm Realbotix.
Purchased by the Cattaraugus County School District for USD57,590 (RM235,000), the closed-loop robot is designed to provide 24/7 virtual assistance and customised learning options. However, teachers and Indigenous community members have criticised the pilot programme, describing it as culturally tone-deaf and dehumanising to the teaching profession.
The Realbotix M-Series robot named Sally.
Image via CNETThe deployment marks the first time a US school has introduced a physical humanoid robot into a classroom setting
Realbotix, which pivoted from cryptocurrency and adult doll manufacturing after acquiring sex doll maker Simulacra for USD16.7 million (RM68.2 million) in 2024, developed its M-Series humanoid to interact through natural conversations and real-time facial expressions.
Although the company has denied any connection between its adult products and the educational robot, local educators have expressed concern over data privacy, recording capabilities, and software safeguards.
Ultra-realistic robots made by Realbotix.
Image via Biometric UpdateThe Salamanca Teachers' Association, backed by the New York State United Teachers union, has demanded an immediate freeze on the pilot programme
Educators argue that installing a lifelike machine in front of young learners undermines vital human connections. Union leaders emphasised that children require caring adult mentors rather than algorithmic interactions to develop critical social skills and conflict-resolution abilities.
The New York State Department of Education also raised concerns, warning that artificial intelligence tools should never replace the accountability and professional judgment of trained teachers.
Beyond professional objections, the trial has reopened historical wounds among local Native American residents, as Indigenous students make up nearly 40% of the school's enrolment
Community members strongly criticised officials for selecting the Indigenous community as an experimental testing ground, drawing comparisons to historical Native American boarding schools that disrupted traditional cultural traditions and communities.
In response to the backlash, Realbotix said the trial is intended to complement human teachers by providing supervised exposure to emerging robotics tools as part of the district's science curriculum.
