The Salamanca City Central School District in Western New York is set to introduce an artificial intelligence-powered humanoid robot into its classrooms this fall, positioning itself as one of the pioneering districts nationwide to integrate such technology as a classroom assistant. This move, announced earlier this year, has sparked considerable debate among local parents, educators, and online commentators regarding the appropriate role and implications of AI in public education.
"Many schools are taking the easy solution of simply banning it, but I have found that students will find a way around most rules that schools put in place." — Mark Beehler, Salamanca Superintendent
The district has partnered with Realbotix, a robotics company based in Toronto, to deploy the robot, named Sally, alongside a comprehensive AI teaching assistant program. The collaboration aims to support both students and educators within the district. According to documents attached to the school board agenda, the district approved the purchase of Sally for $57,590. Andrew Kiguel, CEO of Realbotix, noted that this price represented a discount from the company's standard listed starting price of $95,000 for the M-Series model.
Sally is designed with a human-like appearance, featuring silicone skin, long brown hair, the ability to display facial expressions, and upper-body movement. Despite its lifelike aesthetics, the robot will remain stationary within the classroom environment, as reported by NewsNation. Its initial deployment will be at Salamanca High School, specifically within courses focused on AI and robotics. These courses will utilize curriculum developed by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, integrating cutting-edge educational content with the new technological assistant.
Beyond the physical robot, students in the district will also gain access to an AI teaching assistant delivered through an avatar on their personal laptops. This digital component is intended to provide academic support outside of traditional classroom hours, offering personalized assistance based on individual student interactions and course materials.
Salamanca Superintendent Mark Beehler explained the district's rationale for embracing this technology rather than attempting to restrict students from independently utilizing AI tools. "Many schools are taking the easy solution of simply banning it, but I have found that students will find a way around most rules that schools put in place," Beehler stated. He emphasized that educational institutions should focus on teaching students how to properly engage with and utilize emerging technologies, rather than simply excluding them from the learning environment.
The Salamanca City Central School District serves approximately 1,300 students and is situated entirely within the Seneca Nation reservation. Demographic data indicates that around 32 percent of the student body identifies as American Indian or Alaska Native, and a significant 79 percent are considered economically disadvantaged. These statistics underscore the unique context in which the district is implementing this advanced technology.
The announcement has not been without its critics. Some community members have openly questioned the district's priorities, particularly whether investing in advanced AI technology should take precedence given existing local challenges. Sierra Abrams, a local parent, voiced her concerns to New York Focus, stating, "We already have so many issues in our community, including environmental issues. I just don’t understand the concept of adding AI onto that." Abrams further suggested that the introduction of such technology might conflict with the community's established values.
Additional concerns have emerged regarding the corporate history of Realbotix. In 2024, Realbotix acquired Simulacra Corporation, the parent company of RealDoll, which is known for producing hyperrealistic adult sex dolls. Realbotix has publicly stated that its education division operates entirely separately from RealDoll. The company asserts that there are no shared employees, technology, or facilities between its educational ventures and its adult product line, according to TechSpot.
Both Realbotix and Salamanca district officials have affirmed that robust safeguards are in place to protect students. District officials have clarified that the AI system will operate on a closed network, ensuring that Realbotix will not have access to personally identifiable student information. Furthermore, officials confirmed that the technology will not incorporate facial recognition or recording features. The district maintains that the robot's primary purpose is to assist teachers, not to replace them, thereby preserving the vital role of human educators.
The district intends to evaluate the program's effectiveness based on ongoing feedback from both students and educators. Proponents of the initiative argue that AI tools, such as Sally and the digital assistant, could significantly expand access to personalized tutoring and potentially motivate more students to pursue academic and career paths in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The Salamanca project represents a significant test case for AI integration in K-12 education, with potential implications for other districts considering similar technological advancements.
