‘Really inappropriate’: teachers decry plan for humanoid robot in New York high school
Teachers and community members in Salamanca, New York, are protesting the introduction of a humanoid robot into a local high school. Critics argue the robot, produced by a company with ties to the sex doll industry, is inappropriate and dehumanizing for an educational environment.
Why it matters
It highlights the ethical and cultural tensions surrounding the integration of AI and robotics into public education systems.
A Realbotix robot at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January./Getty Images A Realbotix robot at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January./Getty Images New York ‘Really inappropriate’: teachers decry plan for humanoid robot in New York high school Robot from company that acquired sex doll maker to be introduced in school with large Native American population
Prefer the Guardian on Google A humanoid robot is being introduced as part of a pilot program, along with an AI teaching assistant, at Salamanca high school in Salamanca, New York, located on the Allegany territory of the Seneca nation.
Teachers have criticized the program, deeming it “inappropriate” and claiming it dehumanizes the profession with the introduction of human-like robots. Some local Native American residents have also criticized the pilot program, citing its implementation as “culturally tone deaf”.
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