Key facts
- The Salamanca City Central school district paused its plan to use a humanoid robot named Sally.
- The decision followed backlash from educators, a union, and community members.
- Concerns included data privacy, the robot manufacturer's association with sex dolls, and the pilot's location.
- The school district is working on enhanced data privacy agreements and community engagement.
- The robot was intended to provide hands-on learning experiences and exposure to emerging technologies.
The Salamanca City Central school district in New York has put on hold its plan to introduce a humanoid robot named Sally at its high school, following significant backlash from educators and community members. The district announced on July 24 that the pilot project with Toronto-based Realbotix would be paused to address enhanced student data privacy agreements with the New York State Education Department and to continue engaging with the community.
The proposal had drawn widespread criticism, particularly due to Realbotix's acquisition of a company that manufactures sex dolls. Melinda Person, president of the New York State United Teachers union, stated that a robot from such a company has no place in classrooms and emphasized the importance of human relationships for student development. Lacey Pihlblad, president of the Salamanca Teachers’ Association, also voiced concerns about the company's background and the security of the robot's software and data collection capabilities.
Further criticism came from educators who questioned the choice of a school serving a large Native American population for such an experiment, drawing parallels to the historical abuses at Native American boarding schools. Sierra May Abrams, a substitute teacher at the high school, called the decision to experiment on Native American children "insane."
In response to the pause, Realbotix CEO Andrew Kiguel expressed respect for the school's decision and reiterated that the program is designed to assist teachers and students, not replace them. He emphasized the company's commitment to ensuring the program is safe, fully approved, and supported by teachers.