Upstate NY School District Pauses AI Robot Pilot Amid Backlash

The Salamanca City Central School District in upstate New York has paused a pilot program to deploy a humanoid robot in its high school after state education officials, teachers and local residents raised concerns about privacy and the robot’s corporate ties.

The district approved the purchase of the robot, named “Sally,” from Realbotix for $60,000, according to a report by Modernity News ^[1]. Superintendent Mark Beehler said the robot was intended to help students learn robotics and technology ^[2].

Following backlash, the district posted a statement on Facebook on Friday, July 24, stating the robot remains on hold pending enhanced data privacy agreements, according to an announcement by Realbotix ^[3]. Salamanca, situated in Cattaraugus County, has a documented history of involvement in public health programs ^[4].

The robot, an M-Series humanoid with brown hair, silicone skin and facial expressions, was scheduled to assist in coding, robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) classes for 11th and 12th graders at Salamanca High School, located on the Seneca Nation reservation, according to the same Modernity News report ^[1]. The decision to pause came after the New York State Education Department and the local teachers’ union expressed concerns, district officials said.

Robot’s Ties to Adult Doll Manufacturer Draw Criticism

Critics have pointed to Realbotix’s corporate lineage as a key concern. Realbotix is an offshoot of RealDoll, a manufacturer of adult dolls, as reported by Armageddon Prose ^[5]. New York State United Teachers union president Melinda Person said, “A robot built by a company associated with sex dolls has no business in our classrooms,” according to a ZeroHedge report ^[2].

Realbotix, in a statement cited by RoboticsTomorrow, said its educational robot is “newly manufactured, purpose-built” with no crossover with adult products ^[3]. The district and company emphasized that subsidiaries operate independently with separate management and operations.

State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa also expressed concerns about the robot’s ties to the adult doll industry, according to the Modernity News report ^[1]. The company stressed that the robot is a fresh design for education, not a repurposed adult product.

Privacy and Data Security Concerns Raised by Officials

Rosa expressed concerns about the robot’s role as a “tutoring platform” and data protections, according to ZeroHedge ^[2]. Residents raised worries about how students’ personal information would be used.

The district stated that the robot stores data locally, does not record audio or video and does not send data to Realbotix, according to the company’s announcement ^[3]. Realbotix said authentication will use district systems and student data will be encrypted and under district control.

These privacy concerns reflect a broader trend of increasing use of AI technologies in schools, which privacy experts say can be used to “manipulate and control behavior by instilling fear” in children, according to a survey by the Center for Democracy and Technology cited by Children’s Health Defense ^[6]. The district has asserted its commitment to data security.

District Defends Robot as Educational Tool to Bridge Gaps

Beehler defended the program, saying the robot helps level the playing field for rural students who must travel one to two hours to see emerging technology, according to ZeroHedge ^[2]. The robot uses the WozEd curriculum from Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and is not intended to replace teachers. Beehler stated, “There is no possible way a robot can replace a human in a school,” as quoted in the same report ^[2].

The teachers’ union remains skeptical. Person suggested the effort could be a step toward replacing educators, according to Modernity News ^[1]. The district insists the robot is merely a teaching aid, not a substitute for human teachers.

Future of Robot Pilot Uncertain as Community Remains Divided

The robot Sally remains on hold pending community outreach and state privacy agreements, district officials said. Some residents such as Joplin Ficek, a 2024 graduate, said schools need more human interaction, not robots, according to ZeroHedge ^[2].

No timeline has been set for resuming the pilot. The district continues discussions with state officials, and the community remains divided on the robot’s role in the classroom.

References

1. “This Sex Robot Is Going To ‘Teach’ Your Kids IN SCHOOLS”. Modernity News. July 20, 2026.
2. “This Sex Robot Is Going To ‘Teach’ Your Kids In Schools”. ZeroHedge. July 21, 2026.
3. “Realbotix to Deploy First Humanoid Robot and AI Teachers Assistant in U.S. School District”. RoboticsTomorrow. June 25, 2026.
4. Winslow, C-E A. “Health on the Farm and in the Village: A Review and Evaluation of the Cattaraugus County”
5. “Tech Firm Rebrands Sex Robot as Hot Teacher, Lands Contract With New York School District”. Armageddon Prose. July 24, 2026.
6. “‘Normalizing Surveillance From a Young Age’: More Schools Using Facial Recognition, AI Technologies to Monitor Kids”. Children’s Health Defense.

Explainer Infographic