MyoTaw: New York High School’s Plan to Trial AI Humanoid Robots Faces Heavy Criticism

New York high school's plan to trial AI humanoid robot faces intense criticism

July 26

Plans to trial a humanoid robot and AI teaching assistant system at Salamanca High School in New York State, USA, starting in the fall of 2026, are facing strong criticism from teachers and local Native American communities.

The Cattaraugus County School Board, which oversees schools including Salamanca High School, purchased a humanoid robot named "Selly" for $57,590 (over 1,200 lakh Myanmar kyat). The robot was manufactured by Realbotix, a company with a history of having previously acquired a firm that produced sex toys.

Leah Pablack, president of the Salamanca Teachers Association, expressed deep concerns about Realbotix's background, the security of the software to be used, and the methods for storing student data, calling for a temporary halt to the plan.

Melinda Person, president of the New York State United Teachers union, also criticized the plan as "completely inappropriate," stating that in education, caring adults and human interaction are more important for students than robots.

Nearly 40 percent of Salamanca School's students are Native Americans, and the community has a history of struggling to prevent cultural loss due to past boarding schools. This has led to rising criticism among local Native Americans over the selection of the school as a testing site.

Realbotix has stated that the humanoid robot and AI system are not intended to replace teachers but to provide students with opportunities to learn about AI and robotics technology.

The New York State Education Department has expressed concerns about the lack of student data privacy and appropriate safeguards, stating that while technology can assist teachers and students, it should not replace human judgment and accountability.

Ref & Photo; The Guardian

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