NYC, the nation's largest school system, bans AI for students through 8th grade

New York City, the largest public school system in the United States, has announced a temporary ban on artificial intelligence tools for students through eighth grade, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced on Wednesday. This one-year moratorium is part of a comprehensive review of how children interact with AI technology in the city's schools. The ban applies to any software that utilizes generative AI for student-facing purposes.

The city is simultaneously introducing twice-yearly AI literacy courses for all high school students and pilot programs allowing supervised AI use in high school classrooms. Companion chatbots are prohibited across all grades. Mayor Mamdani emphasized the importance of maintaining critical thinking skills and preventing over-reliance on AI or cheating.

The city plans to recommend screen-time limits, with a maximum of 30 minutes daily for grades three to five and 45 minutes for grades six to eight. Teachers will be permitted to use AI for planning and operational tasks. New York state recently banned student cellphone use in schools. The Education Department will conduct a thorough review of all technology tools and eliminate nonessential ones.

Educational experts have praised the screen-time limits but criticized the AI policy for lacking clarity and insufficient evaluation time. They argue that AI platforms should demonstrate effectiveness, safety, and non-displacement of face-to-face interaction.