NEW YORK — A school district in a rural corner of upstate New York is hitting pause on plans to deploy an AI-powered, humanoid robot in the classroom after state education officials, teachers and local residents raised concerns, including the maker's ties to a company that produces hyper realistic sex bots.The Salamanca City Central School District's board approved the nearly $60,000 purchase from Realbotix with visions that "Sally," as the stationary robot with long dark hair has already been nicknamed, would enhance the education of high school students studying robotics and technology fields."Having a difficult time programming an Arduino board? Don't even know what an Arduino board is? Ask Sally and she can explain it," Superintendent Mark Beehler, said Tuesday."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 as news spread in the small community located on the Seneca Nation of Indians reservation, parents and teachers worried about how students' personal information would be used.
Unionized teachers took aim at Realbotix's sex doll sister company, even as district officials and the company itself stressed the two manufacturers operate independently."A robot built by a company associated with sex dolls has no business in our classrooms," said Melinda Person, president of the labor union New York State United Teachers.For now, the robot pilot remains on hold as the district works through "enhanced student data privacy agreements" with the state education officials and continues outreach to the community, according to a statement the district posted Friday on its Facebook page.State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa said she remained concerned about the robot's role in the classroom even after her staff met with district officials."Although you confirmed that the robot would not have any role delivering classroom instruction, a recent presen...