New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani announces ban on AI use for students until high school

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a one-year ban on artificial intelligence (AI) use for students in the city's public schools, affecting nearly 600,000 pupils through eighth grade. The ban, designed to protect children's education and mental health, will be closely monitored across the United States as the New York City school board is the largest in the country.

Only high school students, typically aged 14 and above, will be allowed to use AI in limited pilot programs, with biannual AI literacy classes offered to them. Companion chatbots, created for emotional support, are prohibited across all grades.

Mayor Mamdani expressed concern that AI-powered early education is not only inevitable but also unnecessary, stating that children need teachers, human connection, skill development alongside peers, relationship-building with educators, and the ability to tackle problems independently. Teachers can continue using AI for lesson planning and administrative tasks.

A task force consisting of students, teachers, parents, elected officials, and industry experts will assess the impact of the moratorium during the 2026-2027 school year and publish its findings. New York Governor Kathy Hochul echoed Mamdani's sentiments, emphasizing the responsibility to ensure technology supports children's learning without hindering it.

The new rules follow an initial framework published in March that permitted AI use for research, exploration, and creative projects, which sparked outrage among parents and teachers. The city's schools chancellor, Kamar Samuels, acknowledged that the communication regarding the AI policy missed the mark and pledged to review feedback for future revisions.