New York City to ban AI in public schools through eighth grade

The New York City public school system will prohibit the use of artificial intelligence for students through eighth grade, according to a source familiar with the decision. The restriction follows concerns raised by educators and parents regarding the potential harm to children's mental health and cognitive development, as well as environmental impacts. AI will remain permitted in high schools starting with the ninth grade, but its use will be limited to specific purposes like learning about the technology itself.

Eighth graders, typically around 13 years old, will be the last group allowed to use AI for academic tasks in New York City schools. The city's Department of Education has not yet commented on the matter. The AI-only companion chatbots offering emotional support will also be banned. The new rules will be officially announced on Wednesday.

The education department had previously recommended limiting screen time to 45 minutes in class for middle school students and 30 minutes for elementary school students. However, the question of how to monitor AI usage outside the classroom remains unresolved. The rules come after an initial framework published in March that allowed students to use AI for research, exploration, and creative projects, but sparked criticism from some parents and teachers who deemed it too permissive.

In response, New York City Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels stated that the city's leaders had missed the mark in their communication and would review parents' feedback for future rules. The city had planned to follow the March framework with a more comprehensive guidebook incorporating feedback, which will include a task force of teachers, elected officials, experts, and union representatives.

The task force aims to produce a report by April to guide New York's AI-in-schools policy. The city's technology policies are highly influential nationwide, given its status as the largest school district in the United States, with over 900,000 students in the 2024-2025 academic year.