New York bans AI use for students until high school

New York has imposed a one-year ban on artificial intelligence (AI) use for students in public schools, with the exception of high schoolers. The city's mayor, Zohran Mamdani, announced the restriction on Wednesday, citing concerns for children's education and mental health. Nearly 600,000 public school pupils, or nearly the entire K-8 student population, will be affected.

Only high school students, typically aged 14 and above, will be permitted to use AI in limited pilot programs, with biannual AI literacy classes offered. Companion chatbots designed for emotional support will be banned across all grades. Mayor Mamdani emphasized the importance of teachers and human connections in children's learning process, stating that they need to develop skills alongside their peers and build relationships with educators.

Teachers will continue to be allowed to use AI for lesson planning and administrative tasks. A task force comprising students, teachers, parents, elected officials, and industry experts will evaluate the moratorium's impact before publishing findings. Governor Kathy Hochul echoed the city's concern, stating that rapid technological advancements should not hinder children's learning.

The ban follows an initial framework published in March that allowed students to use AI for research, exploration, and creative projects, which sparked outrage among parents and teachers. Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels claimed that the previous rules had "missed the mark" and would review feedback for future improvements.