The Salamanca City Central School District in Cattaraugus County, Western New York, will introduce an artificial intelligence-powered humanoid robot into its classrooms beginning this fall. The initiative, announced following a board meeting last month, aims to explore how AI technology can support and enhance educational instruction, according to reporting from Syracuse.com.
Realbotix, a technology company, supplied the robot and accompanying AI teaching assistant software that allows students to interact with the system through personal computers. The humanoid robot, called Sally, was designed to serve as a supplementary educational tool rather than a substitute for classroom teachers.
Sally possesses a humanoid design featuring silicone skin and long brown hair, though the robot will operate from a seated position during classroom instruction. The system is capable of displaying multiple facial expressions and upper-body movements to foster greater student participation and interest.
The technology uses individual student identification codes to record and analyze interactions, enabling Sally to customize responses according to each student’s academic background and learning history. The personalization feature allows the robot to identify returning users and resume prior educational conversations.
Andrew Kiguel, chief executive officer of Realbotix, described the partnership as a pivotal achievement for both sectors. According to Kiguel, the Salamanca deployment represents “a landmark moment for both AI and humanoid robotics” and signals “the beginning of a new era where humanoid robots and intelligent AI assistants become standard tools in STEM education.”
Superintendent Mark Beehler outlined the district’s philosophy of embracing technological innovation rather than restricting it. Beehler told Syracuse.com that “many schools are taking the easy solution of simply banning it,” but noted that student ingenuity often circumvents such prohibitions, making education about responsible use more effective than outright bans.
The district prioritizes teaching students appropriate technology practices alongside implementation. “I also believe it is critical for schools to teach proper use of technology, not simply exclude it,” Beehler said.
Realbotix has implemented stringent data protection and privacy protocols for the program. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Kiguel assured that educational operations will remain under district and teacher supervision, with Realbotix maintaining no access to student information or data.
Kiguel emphasized the project’s collaborative development and educational focus. “This has been a deeply collaborative process designed to support, rather than supplant, traditional learning. We are providing custom-built educational robots that prioritize both student engagement and robust safety and privacy protections,” Kiguel stated.
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