A school district in rural upstate New York has put the brakes on a plan to bring an AI-powered humanoid robot into the classroom, following a wave of criticism from state education officials, teachers, and local residents who raised alarms about the robot's maker having ties to a company that produces hyper-realistic sex dolls.
The Salamanca City Central School District board had approved the nearly $60,000 purchase from Realbotix, envisioning that the stationary robot—nicknamed "Sally" with its long dark hair—would enhance robotics and technology education for high school students. Superintendent Mark Beehler touted the robot's ability to explain complex topics like Arduino boards and provide hands-on learning in maintenance and troubleshooting.
But as news spread through the small community on the Seneca Nation of Indians reservation, concerns mounted over student data privacy. Unionized teachers zeroed in on Realbotix's connection to a sister company that manufactures AI-powered sex dolls, despite district officials and the company insisting the two entities operate independently. "A robot built by a company associated with sex dolls has no business in our classrooms," said Melinda Person, president of New York State United Teachers.
State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa echoed those worries, noting in a letter to the district that while officials confirmed the robot wouldn't deliver instruction, a board presentation described it as a "tutoring platform." She also pressed for assurances on data privacy and security. The district has now paused the pilot to work through enhanced data privacy agreements with the state and continue community outreach, according to a Friday Facebook post.
Beehler stressed the robot isn't meant to replace teachers, calling teaching a "human-to-human process." He argued that for isolated rural districts like Salamanca, the robot helps level the playing field by giving students access to cutting-edge technology without requiring hours of travel. The pilot also includes a virtual AI teaching assistant and at-home tutoring program.
Realbotix pushed back against claims that "Sally" is a repurposed sex doll, describing it as a "newly manufactured, purpose-built educational unit" with no modified hardware. The company noted that Realbotix LLC focuses on healthcare and education, while its sister company Intima LLC owns the sex doll maker RealDoll, with separate management and operations. The district added that Sally won't collect personal data, record interactions, or access the public internet, storing all information locally and consuming about as much energy as a laptop.
Some residents remain skeptical. Joplin Ficek, a 2024 Salamanca High graduate now working at a daycare, questioned the need for robots in schools, arguing the district should instead hire more dedicated staff. The pause highlights broader debates over AI in education, as seen in other districts like a San Diego charter school that spent $500,000 on two AI robots last year.
For context, this clash over technology in schools comes amid wider political fights over federal rules on school discrimination and calls for federal action on humanoid robots in manufacturing, underscoring how AI policy is increasingly intersecting with education and labor. The Salamanca district's next steps will likely hinge on resolving data privacy concerns and community trust.
