New York State withdraws AI robot 'Sally' from classrooms… “Linked to adult doll company”

A New York school district paused a classroom pilot for the AI humanoid "Sally" after backlash over the maker’s ties to an adult doll company and student privacy concerns.

Salamanca City School District had planned to buy the robot for about $60,000 to support high school robotics education.

Community members, the teachers union, and state education officials raised questions about appropriateness and data protection.

The case underscores the need to vet AI vendors carefully before bringing robots into schools.