Article By Frank Bergman
A New York school district has been forced to scrap plans to replace human teachers with life-sized humanoid AI robots in classrooms after parents, teachers, and state officials raised alarms.
The plan faced widespread backlash over student privacy and the manufacturer’s ties to a company that produces hyper-realistic sex robots.
Many raised concerns that the robot teacher appeared to be the same as the company’s sexbots, only marketed toward schools.
The Salamanca City Central School District had approved spending nearly $60,000 on a stationary robot from Realbotix to pilot the scheme.
District officials had already nicknamed the dark-haired robot “Sally” and planned to use it with high school students studying robotics and technology.
However, the program has now been dropped following mounting backlash in the rural community, which is located on the Seneca Nation of Indians reservation.
Teachers Sound Alarm over Sex Robot Connection
Superintendent Mark Beehler claimed “Sally” would help students troubleshoot technical problems and learn how artificial intelligence systems operate.
“Having a difficult time programming an Arduino board?” Beehler said Tuesday.
“Don’t even know what an Arduino board is?
“Ask Sally, and she can explain it.
“The robot also provides opportunities for students to learn how the robot is maintained, how it is updated with new approved content, and how to troubleshoot issues.”
But teachers and residents questioned how the robot would handle students’ personal information and objected to Realbotix’s connection to the adult entertainment industry.
Realbotix LLC focuses on education, healthcare, and other commercial applications.
However, its sister company, Intima LLC, owns a stake in RealDoll, a longtime manufacturer of sex dolls that markets AI-powered models as the “world’s most advanced sex robot.”
Yet, outraged parents raised concerns that the robots appeared to be the same product.
“A robot built by a company associated with sex dolls has no business in our classrooms,” said New York State United Teachers President Melinda Person.
The district announced Friday that the pilot program would remain suspended while officials negotiate “enhanced student data privacy agreements” with the state and conduct further community outreach.
State Officials Question Robot’s Classroom Role
New York State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa said concerns remained even after her staff met with district officials.
“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,’ ” Rosa wrote in a letter to the district Friday.
Rosa also raised questions about the safeguards surrounding student data and cybersecurity.
Teachers warned that the program could represent an early move toward replacing human educators with machines.
“Our students don’t need robots,” Person said.
“They need real relationships with caring adults.”
“Sally” would be able to move its arms and hands but would have nonfunctioning legs.
The broader pilot also included a virtual AI-powered teaching assistant and an at-home tutoring program.
Beehler insisted the technology would not replace district employees.
“There is no possible way a robot can replace a human in a school,” he said Tuesday.
“Even if it were possible, it would in no way be in the best interest of students.
“Teaching is a human-to-human process.”
District Insists Robot Would Not Spy on Students
District officials said the robot would not record audio or video, collect students’ personal information, or send data back to Realbotix.
They also said “Sally” would be blocked from discussing sex, violence, gambling, and other inappropriate subjects.
The robot would not have access to the open internet or rely on unapproved generative AI platforms, according to the district.
Instead, its information would be stored locally, and the robot would use roughly the same amount of electricity as a laptop.
Realbotix said student authentication would be handled through the school district’s existing systems and that any information connected to students would remain encrypted and controlled by the district.
The company also denied that the classroom robot was a modified sex doll.
Realbotix described “Sally” as a “newly manufactured, purpose-built educational unit” with no repurposed hardware.
“Realbotix LLC and Intima LLC have different product offerings with no crossover,” the company said in a statement.
“The two subsidiaries maintain their own management, personnel, payroll, facilities, manufacturing operations, product development, and market strategies.”
Residents Reject Push to Put AI in Schools
Beehler argued that isolated districts such as Salamanca must bring emerging technologies directly to students who would otherwise have to travel long distances to encounter them.
“In most cases, our students need to travel 1-2 hours to have opportunities to see emergent technology,” he said.
“One of the intents of the robot is to help level the playing field and motivate students to continue studying robotics, AI, and STEAM-related career pathways.”
But some residents remain deeply skeptical that a humanoid AI machine belongs anywhere near their children.
Salamanca High School graduate Joplin Ficek said the district should invest in human staff instead.
“They just need to hire more people who are willing to put in the effort for the children,” Ficek said.
“They need more interaction with the children than having some robot raise our kids.”
Be the first to comment