A New York school district has paused plans to introduce a humanoid robot into a high school classroom, delaying a scheme that had drawn attention for putting a lifelike AI-powered assistant alongside teachers. Salamanca City Central School District and robotics firm Realbotix had planned a limited pilot for autumn 2026, but announced on 24 July that the project was on hold while enhanced student data privacy agreements are worked out with the New York State Education Department, alongside further discussions with the local community.

The pilot centred on a stationary robot named Sally, a 5'2" unit with silicone skin, styled hair and expressive facial features, costing around $57,000. It was intended to work alongside human teachers as a support tool for AI and robotics lessons in upper grades, using Realbotix's Optio AI system, with the district stressing that it ran on a closed system and would not transmit student data to manufacturers. No new date has been set for the pilot, as concerns persist over privacy and how quickly students should be exposed to humanlike AI technology in classrooms.