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New York City bans AI in elementary and middle-school classrooms for one year
🇰🇷 South Korea /Technology

New York City bans AI in elementary and middle-school classrooms for one year

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a one-year ban on generative AI for public-school students from 2-K through eighth grade during the 2026-27 school year.
  • The policy will affect about 600,000 students and also prohibit student companion chatbots, while recommending daily device limits of 30 minutes for grades 3-5 and 45 minutes for grades 6-8.
  • High schools may run tightly supervised AI pilots, and the city plans to consult educators, parents, experts and elected officials before developing future rules.

New York City plans to keep generative artificial intelligence out of most elementary and middle-school classrooms for a year, while also cutting recommended screen time for younger students.

a promise to build the future the right way.

— Zohran MamdaniThe New York City mayor described the one-year pause on student generative AI use.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a policy covering public-school students from 2-K through eighth grade during the 2026-27 school year. The restriction will affect about 600,000 students, roughly two-thirds of the city’s public-school population. Students will also be barred from using companion chatbots designed to support learning through conversation.

Mamdani described the pause as “a promise to build the future the right way.” He added, “We will eagerly adopt new technologies, but only when they benefit our students.” The city will use a group made up of educators, parents, experts and elected officials to examine AI’s effects on students and recommend how it should be used later.

We will eagerly adopt new technologies, but only when they benefit our students.

— Zohran MamdaniMamdani explained that the city would consider adopting AI when it serves students.

The policy does not impose a blanket ban on high-school students. Some high-school classes may operate AI pilot programs under strict supervision. All high-school students will also receive two lessons a year covering AI literacy, bias, ethics and critical thinking. Teachers may continue using AI for lesson planning and administrative work if the tools meet city safety standards.

human interaction

— Zohran MamdaniMamdani said the policy aims to protect interpersonal interaction in classrooms.

The new guidance recommends limiting personal device use to 30 minutes a day for students in grades 3-5 and 45 minutes for grades 6-8. Mamdani said the goal was to protect “human interaction” in classrooms, allowing students to develop thinking and social skills by solving problems with teachers and peers rather than relying on AI. Parent groups and more than half of the City Council have called for a pause in expanding classroom AI. Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers, called AI “very dangerous” and urged caution until new technologies and products have been adequately tested.

very dangerous

— Michael MulgrewThe United Federation of Teachers president characterized AI while calling for cautious school use.
About this summary

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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