New York Bill Would Ban Humanoid Robots in Schools
Salamanca City Central School District was set to become one of the first in the nation to bring a humanoid robot into the classroom this fall, as part of a partnership with a tech company called Realbotix.
Key takeaways
- The most recent developments in humanoid robotics show a surge of commercial, industrial, and policy activity.
- In August 2026, Chinese EV maker BYD announced it will debut functional humanoid robots at its Di Space event, positioning itself to compete directly with Tesla’s Optimus and other entrants such as Xpend, which plans a 1,000‑unit rollout in 2027.
- Meanwhile, Italian startup Generative Bionics has launched Gene.01, a fully sensorized humanoid with smart skin that can detect touch, temperature, force and the approach of nearby workers, aiming to reduce collisions in industrial settings.
- China’s 28th China Robot and Artificial Intelligence Competition (CRAIC) held its national humanoid finals in Beijing, drawing over 350 robots from 213 teams and featuring the first full‑size humanoids operating without remote control in realistic industrial scenarios.
- In the United States, Walden Robotics announced a partnership with Toyota to develop practical, wheel‑based humanoids for human‑centric workplaces, while a New York high‑school pilot of a silicone‑skinned teaching robot named Sally was paused amid privacy concerns, prompting state legislators to introduce a bill banning humanoid robots in schools.
Salamanca City Central School District was set to become one of the first in the nation to bring a humanoid robot into the classroom this fall, as part of a partnership with a tech company called Realbotix. The robot, named Sally, would have lifelike silicone skin, long hair, and a wide range of upper-body movements and facial expressions. The robot and an accompanying digital avatar, both powered by artificial intelligence, would have given students personalized learning support.
Over an AI-generated image of a Realbotix's robot teacher interacting with students, a letter from the New York state Education Department and a screenshot of a Facebook post from Salamanaca City Central School District.
Western New York School District Hits Pause on Robot Teacher Amid Scrutiny
Melissa Manno Skip to content
New York State Labor Education Technology
New Bill Would Ban Humanoid Robots in Schools After New York Focus Report
“This is the first step in what’s going to be a much larger conversation about AI in New York schools,” the Senate education committee chair said.
Melissa Manno · August 3, 2026
Overlaid on an AI-generated image of a humanoid robot interacting with students in a classroom setting, the text of Senate Bill S10671, which
In response to a New York Focus report, state senators have introduced a bill that would ban New York school districts from using humanoid robots in classroom instruction. | Underlying image courtesy of Realbotix; Bill screenshot: New York state Senate | Illustration: Leor Stylar
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New York Focus’s reporting on the plan drew national attention and backlash from local parents over the use of AI and robotics in schools. On July 24, state Education Commissioner Betty Rosa sent the district a letter expressing concern about “the effect that a humanoid robot may have within a high school classroom.” Hours later, Salamanca announced it was putting the project on hold while it worked through student data privacy agreements with the state.
Now, some lawmakers want to prevent Salamanca or any other school district from making similar investments.
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