Robot Teacher Enters Classroom: AI Revolution Raises New Questions About Children’s Safety
A New York school district has started using a humanoid robot assistant in classrooms, sparking a new debate on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in helping children learn, while keeping them safe and happy.
The Salamanca City Central School District has signed a deal with robotics company Realbotix to use an AI teaching assistant called Optio, which will be supported by a robot named Sally that will be used in some AI and robotics classes.
The robot is intended to support learning, such as homework support, outside of school hours. It features natural language processing, facial expressions and real-time feedback to communicate with students, and the company states that education-focused safety features have been incorporated.
AI-powered learning tools open up new possibilities for children to receive educational support, particularly in subjects where there are fewer specialised teachers in schools. As technology increasingly plays a role in learning, however, child protection professionals stress the importance of robust safeguards to ensure children’s privacy, emotional health and online safety.
Issues of personal learning data collection and use, supervision, and the need to ensure that technology enhances, not detracts from, human interaction are still relevant.
While schools consider the role of AI in the classroom, children’s rights should be at the heart of the process, ensuring that innovation fosters safe, inclusive and quality learning environments for all children, advocates say.
