Teachers and Native American residents criticize humanoid robot pilot in New York high school
14 reported3 unconfirmed
A humanoid robot named Sally is being introduced as part of a pilot program at Salamanca high school in Salamanca, New York, located on the Allegany territory of the Seneca nation. Teachers have criticized the program as “inappropriate” and say it dehumanizes the profession, while some local Native American residents have called it “culturally tone deaf.” The robot was purchased by the Cattaraugus county school district for $57,590 and will be a closed-loop system available virtually to students 24/7, according to a district presentation. The district will be the first in the US to deploy a humanoid robot and AI teaching assistant, per a press release by Realbotix, the Toronto-based company that supplied the robot. Realbotix, formerly Tokens.com, purchased Simulacra, a Las Vegas-based company known for realistic sex dolls, for $16.7m in April 2024, but has denied ties to the sex doll company and any inferences that the dolls are related to the pilot program. The Salamanca Teachers’ Association president Lacey Pihlblad expressed concerns about the company’s background, software security, and data privacy, and called for a pause on implementation. The New York State United Teachers president Melinda Person said teachers across the state are concerned, calling the program “really inappropriate” and “kind of creepy.” Local residents, including substitute teacher Sierra May Abrams and community health specialist Alyson Brown, criticized the selection of a high school with nearly 40% Native American students as a testing ground, citing historical trauma from Native American boarding schools. The Seneca nation declined to comment. Realbotix did not comment on criticisms, stating the program is intended to complement, not replace, teachers as part of the district’s STEM curriculum. The Salamanca city central school district and superintendent Mark Beehler did not respond to multiple requests for comment. The New York state department of education’s assistant commissioner of public affairs, JP O’Hare, said the agency raised serious concerns about student privacy, safeguards, and the risk of the robot replacing trained professionals.
What’s reported
A humanoid robot named Sally is part of a pilot program at Salamanca high school in Salamanca, New York, on the Allegany territory of the Seneca nation.
Teachers criticized the program as “inappropriate” and dehumanizing; some Native American residents called it “culturally tone deaf.”
The robot was purchased by the Cattaraugus county school district for $57,590.
The district will be the first in the US to deploy a humanoid robot and AI teaching assistant, according to a Realbotix press release.
Realbotix, formerly Tokens.com, purchased Simulacra, a Las Vegas-based company known for realistic sex dolls, for $16.7m in April 2024.
Realbotix denied ties to the sex doll company and any inferences that the dolls are related to the pilot program.
Lacey Pihlblad, president of Salamanca Teachers’ Association, called for a pause on implementation due to concerns about company background, software security, and data privacy.
Melinda Person, president of New York State United Teachers, said the program is “really inappropriate” and “kind of creepy.”
Nearly 40% of the high school’s student body are Native Americans.
Local residents criticized the selection of a school with a significant Native American population as a testing ground, citing historical trauma from Native American boarding schools.
The Seneca nation declined to comment.
Realbotix did not comment on criticisms; stated the program is intended to complement, not replace, teachers.
The Salamanca city central school district and superintendent Mark Beehler did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
JP O’Hare, assistant commissioner of public affairs for the New York state department of education, said the agency raised serious concerns about student privacy, safeguards, and the risk of the robot replacing trained professionals.
Open questions
Whether the pilot program will proceed as planned or be paused.
The specific details of the software security and data privacy measures.
The exact timeline for the fall 2026 pilot.
Key figures
Lacey Pihlblad, president of Salamanca Teachers’ Association and teacher at the high school
Melinda Person, president of New York State United Teachers
Sierra May Abrams, substitute teacher at Salamanca high school and local resident
Alyson Brown, community health specialist, local resident, and Seneca nation member
Mark Beehler, superintendent of Salamanca city central school district
JP O’Hare, assistant commissioner of public affairs for the New York state department of education
Realbotix spokesperson (not named)
Sources: The Guardian
