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In the state of New York, in the city of Salamanca, a local school decided to more actively incorporate the latest technologies into its curriculum and "invited" a humanoid robot named Sally to work as a teacher for high school students. However, Sally did not last long, stirring up a whole host of discussions.
What are the advantages of a robot teacher
Sally was developed by the Realbotix team; such a humanoid costs around $58,000. Its purpose is to familiarize children with modern technologies, strengthen their interest in learning, and stimulate curiosity. Sally was assigned to teach STEM disciplines — which sounds quite logical.
To work in a school setting with personal data (especially with such a vulnerable group as children and teenagers), Sally was not given access to the open internet and was prohibited from working on subjects other than STEM. To interact with the robot, students entered their IDs, after which the humanoid could provide personalized information about their studies, taking into account previous conversations and interactions.
From the very beginning, the school stated that Sally was not intended to replace teachers — she works only as a helper and assistant, and makes no claim to the role of a «live» teacher.
What did parents and teachers find objectionable?
Initially, criticism arose because of the manufacturer: Realbotix includes the brand Simulacra, which produces dolls for adult users. Parents concluded that a company with such a background should not be involved in education or provide services to children.
Parents and educators are concerned about how well students' personal data is protected and whether the software is secure. How is the data stored? What is collected, and how? Are conversations recorded, and are they transmitted anywhere? Is any statistical data generated?
Moreover, many emphasize the importance and value of direct interaction between teachers and students: a person can notice a child's difficulties, offer support, and work together to find solutions — none of which is possible without human empathy.
Additional questions and concerns are raised even by the choice of school. It so happens that this particular school has a large number of Native American students — and many see this as yet another experiment on «peoples who have already suffered enough from US colonial policies».
Who will decide Sally's fate
The robot has currently been suspended from working with students pending an additional review. It is currently unclear whether the humanoid will return to its school duties or be revised under stricter security and privacy requirements.
