Teachers have criticised the program, deeming it “inappropriate” and claiming it dehumanises the profession with the introduction of human-like robots. Some local Native American residents have also criticised the pilot program, calling its implementation “culturally tone deaf”, The Guardian reports.

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 criticised the program, deeming it “inappropriate” and claiming it dehumanises the profession with the introduction of human-like robots. Some local Native American residents have also criticised the pilot program, calling its implementation “culturally tone deaf”, The Guardian reports.

The robot, named Sally, was purchased by the Cattaraugus County school district, which includes Salamanca High School, for $57,590. According to a presentation on the program, Sally will be a closed-loop system but available virtually to students 24/7 and offers personalised learning options. The district will be the first in the US to deploy a humanoid robot and AI teaching assistant, according to a Realbotix press release.

Lacey Pihlblad, president of the Salamanca Teachers’ Association and a teacher at the high school, said, “There’s a growing consensus that indicates our students should be exposed to less technology. Placing a humanoid robot into the classroom to interact with our children, I believe, is a massive step in the wrong direction, and I believe that the majority of our teachers feel the same.”