A nearly $60,000 pilot for “Sally,” a humanoid AI robot meant to support Salamanca high school robotics and technology students, is on hold while the district renegotiates student-data privacy terms with New York education officials.
Betty Rosa, the state education commissioner, questioned how the robot could be described as a “tutoring platform” while not delivering instruction, and also pressed the district on data security protections.
New York State United Teachers and some residents attacked Realbotix’s links to a sister company tied to RealDoll sex bots, arguing the project risks normalizing the wrong technology and edging toward staff replacement.
Salamanca says Sally would not record audio or video, collect personal data, access the public internet or use unvetted generative AI, with information stored locally and student authentication kept under district control.
The district still argues the robot could widen access to emerging technology in its rural community, but community outreach and state review now stand between the plan and any classroom rollout.