Realbotix school humanoid pilot draws New York backlash
Realbotix is set to place one M-Series humanoid robot and an AI teaching assistant into Salamanca High School in Salamanca, New York, for a limited fall 2026 pilot that has already drawn objections from teachers, state union leaders and some local Native American residents, according to the Guardian.
The Realbotix school humanoid pilot includes a robot named Sally, purchased by the Cattaraugus county school district for $57,590. A district presentation described Sally as a closed loop system that would also be available virtually to students 24/7 for those with access, and would offer personalized learning options. Realbotix says Salamanca would be the first US district to deploy a humanoid robot and AI teaching assistant.
Realbotix said the pilot will also include Optio, an AI powered educational assistant, alongside one new M-Series humanoid unit. The company describes the humanoid as using natural conversation, facial expressions and real time interaction for classroom learning activities.
Teachers question privacy and classroom role
Lacey Pihlblad, president of the Salamanca Teachers’ Association and a teacher at the high school, told the Guardian that the union is concerned about the company’s background, software security, data storage and recording capabilities. She said the union wants the district to pause both the robot and the AI software until more people can review the plan.
Melinda Person, president of New York State United Teachers, said educators across the state view the pilot as inappropriate. Her core objection is not to classroom technology generally, but to placing a humanlike machine in a student facing role that teachers believe should be handled by trained adults.
“Technology can and should support educators and students, but it should not replace the human judgment or accountability essential to a safe and effective learning environment.”JP O’Hare, New York state department of education
The New York state department of education has been in contact with the district and raised concerns about student privacy, safeguards and the risk that the robot could be used for functions that should remain with qualified professionals, assistant commissioner of public affairs JP O’Hare told the Guardian.
Company history adds scrutiny
Realbotix, formerly Tokens.com, is a Toronto company that bought Simulacra, a Las Vegas based company known for realistic sex dolls, for $16.7 million in April 2024. Realbotix denied ties to the sex doll company and denied that dolls made by Abyss Creations, a Realbotix subsidiary, are related to the school pilot.
The location has also become part of the dispute. Salamanca is located on the Allegany territory of the Seneca nation, and nearly 40% of the high school’s student body is Native American. Some local residents told the Guardian the district’s choice of school was culturally tone deaf given the history of Native American boarding schools. The Seneca nation declined to comment.
A Realbotix spokesperson said the program is meant to complement, not replace, teachers, and to give students supervised access to emerging AI and robotics tools within the district’s STEM curriculum. The Salamanca city central school district and superintendent Mark Beehler did not respond to the Guardian’s requests for comment.
Source: theguardian.com
