AI banned for elementary, middle school students in NYC

New York City public schools will ban elementary and middle school students from using generative AI tools for the 2025-2026 school year, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Wednesday, marking the most expansive prohibition in the U.S. The one-year moratorium applies to all student-facing generative AI software through eighth grade, while high school students will receive AI literacy classes and limited pilot programs under educator supervision.

NEW YORK — New York City’s public schools will temporarily ban elementary and middle school students from using generative artificial intelligence tools during the upcoming school year, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Wednesday. The one-year moratorium — part of a broader assessment of how children in the nation’s largest school system interact with the technology — will apply to “all software that uses student-facing generative AI” for students through eighth grade, the mayor’s office said. It described the policy as the most expansive prohibition in the country. At the same time, the city will establish twice-yearly AI literacy classes for all public high school students. It will also launch pilot programs allowing some high school students to use a handful of AI platforms under an educator’s supervision. Companion chatbots will be prohibited across all grades, officials said. The approach comes as students, parents and schools across the country attempt to navigate the use of AI tools in the classroom and elsewhere. Schools are working to teach children how to incorp