NEW YORK HIGH SCHOOL INTRODUCES HUMANOID ROBOT 'SALLY' TO HELP TEACH STUDENTS

Sally costs $57,000, speaks with a local accent, and will help teach teenagers about coding and AI.

Imagine walking into class and locking eyes with a robot. She knows your name, talks like you do, and is ready to help you learn.

WHAT HAPPENED

Salamanca High School is putting a robot in the classroom. Her name is Sally. She has brown hair and can move her arms, but she cannot walk.

Sally speaks with a Western New York accent. Students can log in so she remembers them and their past talks. She will help teach coding, robotics, and AI to older students.

Sally costs $57,000. That is less than what most teachers make in New York. Still, the school promises Sally will never take a human's job.

FACT BOX

• Cost: $57,000, which is less than a teacher's average pay.
• Maker: Realbotix, a company that also makes companion robots.
• Skills: Sally can move her arms and legs but cannot walk.
• Voice: She has a local Western New York accent.
• Use: Helping teach tech and coding to 11th and 12th graders.

WHY IT MATTERS

Kids are growing up in a world full of smart tech. Learning with a robot helps them get ready for future jobs.

But this also starts a debate about school budgets. Some people worry about schools using robots to save cash instead of hiring staff.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

Sally will start her job helping in high school classes. Teachers and students will learn how to work with her every day.

Other schools will watch this trial. They want to see if robots actually help kids learn before they buy their own.

WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW

1. Will students learn better with a robot, or will Sally just be a distraction?
2. How safe is the data Sally collects when students log in to talk to her?
3. Will other schools start buying robots instead of hiring human teachers?