By Sofiat Adenekan-Abdul
New York City NYC, has imposed a one-year restriction on students’ use of artificial intelligence in public schools, affecting nearly 600,000 pupils through eighth grade.
The policy, announced by Mayor of New York City Zohran Mamdani, limits AI use among younger students, while allowing high school students to participate in selected pilot programmes.
Under the new policy, high school students will also receive AI literacy classes twice a year .
It also states that the city will ban AI-powered companion chatbots designed to provide emotional support across all grade levels.
Mayor Mamdani said children need teachers and human interaction to develop problem-solving skills independently.
Teachers, however, will be allowed to use AI for lesson planning and administrative tasks.
it notes that a task force made up of students, teachers, parents, elected officials and industry experts will assess the policy during the 2026–2027 school year and publish its findings.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said the move is intended to ensure rapidly evolving technology supports children’s learning rather than disrupts it.
Edited by Julian Osamoto
