The Salamanca City Central School District in upstate New York will deploy a humanoid robot in classrooms this fall to assist with instruction. The robot, named Sally, is designed to support teachers and students, not replace them. The district plans to purchase the robot from Realbotix along with an AI teaching assistant program that allows students to interact with the robot on their laptops.
During a board meeting, the district announced the initiative, which aims to explore the integration of artificial intelligence in education. Andrew Kiguel, CEO of Realbotix, stated that this deployment marks a significant moment for AI and humanoid robotics in STEM education. The robot will feature silicone skin and be capable of various facial expressions and upper-body movements.
Students will log in with unique ID numbers, enabling the robot to tailor its responses based on their learning history. Superintendent Mark Beehler emphasized the importance of incorporating AI into daily learning, stating that banning technology is not a viable solution. He believes schools should teach students the proper use of technology.
Kiguel noted that the robot and AI assistant will operate under the oversight of the district and teachers, with safeguards in place to protect student data. The partnership aims to enhance STEM education through hands-on interaction with robotics and coding.