A School in New York Is Bringing a Humanoid Robot Into the Classroom This Fall

A New York school district is making headlines after announcing it will introduce a humanoid robot into classrooms this fall.

The Salamanca City Central School District in Western New York is launching a pilot program featuring a robot named Sally. School leaders say they're not trying to replace teachers, but instead add support.

Meet Sally, the Humanoid Classroom Assistant

Sally has a lifelike appearance with silicone skin, long brown hair, facial expressions and upper-body movements. She'll remain seated in the classroom while interacting with students and teachers.

The district plans to begin with a small group of students enrolled in Woz Ed STEAM courses. If the pilot proves successful, officials may expand the technology into additional high school classrooms.

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According to the school district, Sally will answer questions based only on district-approved curriculum. If she doesn't know an answer, she'll simply respond, "I don't know," instead of making up an answer.

School Officials Say Privacy Comes First

The district has also responded to concerns about student privacy.

Officials say Sally does not collect personally identifiable student information, record conversations, capture audio or video, or send student data back to the manufacturer.

Students will identify themselves using a unique student number instead of their names, allowing the robot to continue previous educational conversations while protecting their identities.

The district also says the robot operates using locally stored information instead of relying on internet-based AI systems, and conversations are limited to educational topics.

The Company Behind Sally Has a Surprising History

While the classroom technology is new, the company behind it has an unusual backstory.

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Realbotix traces its roots to RealDoll, a company founded in the late 1990s that became well known for manufacturing hyper-realistic x rated adult dolls. In recent years, the company expanded into AI-powered companion robots and interactive humanoid technology before shifting its focus toward business applications.

Today, Realbotix says it's concentrating on robots for education, healthcare, hospitality, retail and customer service. The company has stated that its educational robots are entirely separate from its adult products and are not designed for physical intimacy.

A $57,000 Investment in AI Education

The Salamanca school board approved purchasing Sally for about $57,000, a discounted price from the robot's typical cost of around $95,000.

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The purchase also includes an AI-powered digital avatar that students can use outside the classroom for homework help and additional learning using district-approved materials.

Innovation or Too Much Technology?

Not surprisingly, the announcement has sparked plenty of debate.

Supporters believe exposing students to AI and robotics now could better prepare them for careers in STEM fields and the future workforce.

Others question whether schools should be introducing more artificial intelligence into classrooms at a time when many districts are still developing policies around AI use. Some parents have also raised concerns about the company behind the technology, despite Realbotix's efforts to separate its current education business from its adult entertainment origins.

For now, Salamanca officials say Sally is simply a classroom tool designed to work alongside teachers... not replace them. Whether the pilot expands will largely depend on feedback from both educators and students after the program begins this school year.